Dear Thor, When You Get Where You're Going

 

Today I want to write about something a little different. I write to you all in tears... And when I say tears, I mean I'm literally choking on them as I write. I have almost lost faith in humanity today. I have almost lost faith that there is any good in this world. I don't know what to think about the people that surround me, or the city in which I live. It is so upsetting.

For the past few years I have been acquainted with a homeless man who goes by the name of Thor. Of course, I don't know if this is his real name. He has a very, very obvious personality disorder of some sort. One day he says he is the "lord of Texas" and the next he is the "emperor of Russia" and just about every other country in the world. 

He'll "bother" just about anyone who comes by him with stories about his life as a king. I honestly don't mind his stories one bit. They are intriguing, and I know that it brings him to peace to think about being in a better place - a better place than on the streets of Leon Springs, Texas. A better place than where he is now... Getting discriminated, yelled at, shoved away and viewed as a pest. So why not let him tell me a story? A story that brings him joy? 

He tells stories about his wife. He always describes her as a beautiful queen, empress, or princess. And he tells stories about his sons... He describes them to be juvenile, unruly... and just young, vibrant boys. He says they train each day of their lives with guns, swords, knives, and shields to prepare for battle. Thor wants them to be strong for the battles they will face against other countries. His stories are beautiful. It makes me wonder who his wife and sons really are... And where they are. I pray that one day he sees them again.

Some of his stories are sad. He says that when he was just a boy, a Catholic church kidnapped him and did something terrible to him. He remembers making paper airplanes and just tossing them into flight in the church, and getting in great trouble for it. But he remembers how fun it was just to make those paper airplanes and have fun with the other boys, aside from how scary being kidnapped made him. Part of me wonders if something similar to this really happened, because his details are so extremely vivid and just brilliant.

There's something about Thor... Something that only few may see. That is, if anyone sees this at all. He has a beautiful soul. He has a beautiful mind. He sees beyond this corrupt world... and he lives in one that he has created all on his own. One so amazing that our minds are just not equipped enough to completely step into. When I sit and listen to his stories, I get to take a peek. And gosh, what a beautiful place Thor lives in.

I remember seeing his eyes light up this morning as the sun came out of the clouds. Thor always says that he is a "sunshine person". The dark clouds... Well, he isn't a fan of them. And I remember the one kind woman who came to visit him. Sat down next to him, and let her new puppy climb all over him. What joy he experienced getting to see that puppy... Something about it just made him smile like a 5 year old boy getting a Tonka Truck for Christmas.

Today Thor got taken away. Where? I don't know. Guards were hired to keep him away from the stores in our area. He was scaring children with his stories, and his anger towards that guards that act so rude to him. He's never done a thing to hurt someone, so I just can't understand why they would be so awful to Thor and arrest him or drag him away. 

All he wanted to do was buy a cold Coca-Cola from my workplace, and the guards simply wouldn't have it. Although Thor was a paying customer, and had the money to purchase the soda himself, they still took him away. I felt so awful that I couldn't do anything. I was in the back room the entire time, and I fell as if I had abandoned him by letting someone kick him away from us as if he was a disease. The poor man just wanted something to drink! How can someone be so cold?

So, my dear Thor, when you get to that empire of yours, in Russia or in Spain, remember that someone here in your kingdom of Texas cared about you. She never wanted you to be mistreated or hurt. She never wanted you to be made fun of or shunned. Because, Thor, you're a beautiful person. I know you are truly a king and an emperor. I believe every word you say. And if you ever want some frozen yogurt, just stop by the shop. I'm more than happy to treat you to whatever you'd like. After all, you are a king.

God bless you, Thor.

Sincerely,

Your friend, Amanda.