I saw Lydia again. She didn't have any money in her cup, so I avoided having to try and refuse a dollar from her for the babies. I tried to give her a dollar, though, and she said to keep it for the babies.

She told me she liked my easter hair today. And also told me about going to the Easter Egg Roll at the White House yesterday. She said she found it very interesting, which was a lovely professory way to put it. I mentioned it must have been cold, since yesterday was miserable with wind and rain and frigid temps. To this she told me the story of the poncho. That while she was bundled up in her raincoat, she had gone to CVS and bought a poncho just in case. She saw a little boy who was wearing just shorts and a t-shirt and she gave him her poncho. She was very happy with herself about this. And it made me think about how she must have been doing this her whole life. Giving people things. And this made me sad. Because here she is, panhandling extra money to survive.

She pulled out her wallet to give me something and to my surprise it was a folded piece of stationary with her name and address on it. It was as if she were waiting to give it to me for weeks. And again, I hear the ding ding of being in an RPG and getting a magical object that will help me on my quest. She told me that she would only be able to live at her apartment for another 6 months because the whole block is being sold and asked if i would keep an eye out for an apartment for $600 a month because that is how much she gets in social security. Perhaps this is what I am supposed to do for her.

As if it just dawned on her, she asked how the the little easter bunnies are. And again, I am touched, so touched, that this old woman is asking me about the passengers.

I sit here now, looking at her name and address, and realize that finally I know she actually exists, since I have wondered many times if she is just in my head.