14 minute read
UNCOVERED ISSUES
UNCOVERED ISSUES GIVES OUR VENDORS AND WRITERS A VOICE. IT IS A CHANCE FOR THEM TO SHARE THEIR STORIES — AND CONNECT WITH YOU, OUR READERS.
SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY
Advertisement
BY: KAREEM JONES
I am Kareem Jones a One Step Away vendor. I’m usually found in the poetry section. Sometimes write articles to bring awareness to certain important issues in our world. In this article I aim to talk about women who are victims of domestic abuse. One day I saw a woman with a black eye. I do not know her, but I could tell she had been struck very hard because her eye was a plum purple and completely closed. She seemed to be deeply stressed and stared off as if she couldn’t be comforted. The very next day some friends and I were coming out of a store and ran into some ladies walking by. We all noticed the same thing, one of them had a black eye. So naturally we ask if she was okay, she began to explain what happened and it turns out she was struck by a man that wasn’t even her partner. It was a man she just met, and she wasn’t aware of his mental issues until it was too late. The very next day after that I saw my coworker with two black eyes. This is why I chose this topic. Seeing this 3 day in a row makes me feel like the topic chose me. My co-worker was too embarrassed to go home for Thanksgiving, so she spent the holiday alone. The same woman who was too embarrassed to be around loved ones a few short weeks ago has built the courage to allow me to speak on what happened to her. Why would she do that? She knows this could help somebody. The man that attacked her was her boyfriend at the time. He struck her multiple times in the face and dragged her by the hair across the ground. He has been arrested for the assault and warrants that were out for his arrest for other crimes he has committed. He will be off the streets for a very long time. My co-worker knows she doesn’t have to worry about him anymore, but she is not the same person. Before the assault she already had issues concerning family, housing, work and court dates. Through it all she remained positive and upbeat but after she was attacked you can clearly see that this was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Normally she is the happiest person you will see all day. Always smiling, telling jokes and lifting spirits. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen her smile or tell a joke. We’re coworkers but we’re also friends, my friend is just not the same and it breaks my heart. I just pray that in time she will be able to trust again and enjoy life again. I thank her for letting me tell her story because stories like this will help another woman to just be more aware of the true evil that lurks out here. I also want to thank One Step Away for letting me write what’s on my heart. I just want to bring awareness to an ongoing problem nationwide. In this day and age women have to be very careful of the men they spend time with. Please, don’t just get into anybody’s car and don’t let just anybody into your home. A homeless woman would need to be more careful because she doesn’t have a door to lock and are looked at as lesser. It’s a good idea for women to travel in groups at night. It might be a good idea to carry pepper spray or a weapon. Women should never feel afraid or too embarrassed to talk about an assault. Keeping it quiet will only make the attacker feel more at eased to do it again. These abusers need to be brought to justice and sent to jail where they can receive punishment for their crimes. Older women should warn younger girls to not be so trusting. I have noticed that people who are truly evil are also the world’s best actors. Make sure you know a guy really well before you lay with him to make sure you are not sleeping with enemy.
BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT WITH ONE STEP AWAY
“I’ve become a peer specialist and have gained a certificate for a housing voucher.” — Kareem Jones
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE RESOURCES
If you or someone you know has questions or concerns about domestic violence, call the 24-hour Philadelphia Domestic Violence Hotline:
1-866-723-3014
All calls are free, confidential, and anonymous. Bilingual counselors are available.
EVERYONE DESERVES TO BE SAFE!
MOTHERED
BY: BRYANT E. CULPEPPER SR.
Oh momma I miss you so, more than you’ll ever know. I’m burning in the sun, but feeling like it’s snow. There were other mothers, I called mines when you left. And when God called you home, so nothing else was left. No matter the other elders, I adopted as my mom. Although they were lovable, but you were surely on the dime. Our relationship was a bit tattered, I truly rebelled as a child. Not really understanding the love, while walking that teen-age mile. And now I really miss you momma, yes more than you’ll ever know. Still burning in the blazing sun, while feeling like it’s snow. So cold from all the memories, of how I could’ve made it right. But that teen-aged mind I had, to rebel only was my fight. But now that you’ve gone, and God have you in His hands. Oh why oh why my Lord, it took long to understand. There’s nothing like a mother, of whom one can truly adore. A father’s love just as good, but a mom’s a little more. You see, I was raised in an era, where live in fathers was a treat. Something to hold my head high, as I played naively in the streets. But in the absence of our fathers, mothers truly taken the place. Feeding and clothing me well, while keeping smiles upon my face. So this ode is to all the mothers, that gave us warmth through pages Of snow. And oh how I miss being mothered, even more that you’ll ever know. I then dreamt in another way with other landscapes with a different heart I was married — or that I thought, at least I was worried about the Zapatista uprising about the death in the streets (Colosio, Ruiz Massieu) and I was an engineer intern kept doing poetry (Little) loved going in disguise as “normal” people I had a happy life (that was another dream) and at times I forgot one cannot live this way as if beauty did not exist and now I don’t say to myself some forget in life although it seems horrible it’s better if you pay attention to the beauty of everything but firstly it is hidden inside you.
FALLEN HEROES
BY: BRYANT E. CULPEPPER SR.
Hello sir, can you spare a dime? I’d really like something to eat. My body is cold I didn’t get much sleep, from traveling on these burnt up streets. I Don’t mean to bother you I’m just taking a chance, I’m down and out on hard times. I’ve lost my job my family and kids, and all that was taken that was mine. I never would’ve thought skid row be my home, my life was positive again. It happened overnight and the harder I fight, but for some reason fate was the pain. I’m not trying to rob you and I do come in peace, because my stomach is yearning for Food.
I once was on top, but failure prevailed, and claimed I broke some of the rules. I cried through the night of the life that I lost, wanting desperately to truly escape. But something went wrong in my toils and trials, that manifest this down-trodden fate. People don’t know that under this cloud, stands a good man willing to give. But the hand we were dealt we took it in stride, with heartbreaks but yet still we are alive. My pockets are empty my cupboards are bare, my emotions at an all-time low.
Some folk must suffer the challenges of life, in becoming the greatest hero. It’s truly so hard when one makes mistakes, and life is an uphill climb. When comparing the struggles to getting back on top, success is a hard thing to find. I remember these heroes some just from last year, and their spirits still truly goes on. I pray for their souls even unto the night, on in to the wee hours of dawn. I recognized the strength of the underdogs that passed and uprising their love does exist. If you’d just take the time to magnify the heart, of God it’s the core of the kiss. This ode that I share comes from way deep within, because this truly once was my life. It attacked from all sides and I had no way out, in being free of this heart wrenching strife. I’m finally free from the strength that I got, borne from the weeps and the woes. This strength that I received from broken hearts that bleed, was inspired from our fallen Heroes.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bryant overcame homelessness and now advocates for others through his writings. Here he is pictured reading an original poem at the 2018 Homeless Memorial Day in front of a sign listing the 270 names of individuals we lost that year due to homelessness.
JUAN MANUEL
(AGE 52)
MI VALEDOR, MEXICO
FROM INSP’S FEATURE A LETTER TO YOUR YOUNGER SELF.
No one has the right to wake me up.
It’s snowing. I’m sitting on a concrete staircase freezing from the falling snow. But I don’t mind at all. Just an old man without a job. I’m too old for work. I’m 55
I never had anything in life. And I always felt worthless.
I don’t even have any dreams.
While I’m sitting down the snow is falling more and more. I’ve never had a woman love me. My heart is empty. I never felt like I had any value.
Today is my Christmas. CHRIST IS BORN. TEARS ARE falling uncontrollably. Running down my face. And falling onto my lap.
My lap that’s been fully immersed in snow. All of a sudden, the snow is gone. I’m in a room with a familiar smell. I see a green armchair that looks very nostalgic to me along with this particular Christmas tree.
Sprinklers and Christmas decorations are hanging on the tree. Old fashioned decorations with pictures inside of them. Pictures of Jesus Christ. I love them so much. Jesus comes and rises from it.
His eyes are glowing warmly. The kind of glow that gives off love. I kneel down. Bow my head. I said I’m sorry for not loving you enough.
He smiles and disappears. I heard my mother’s voice. Coming from the kitchen. Here comes the coffee and walnut cakes. And sweet cherry preserve.
All tender I said to myself thank you Jesus. I heard a voice of my father and the scent of mulled wine. Son, do you want some mulled wine. It’s good with cherry preserve I feel somebody’s arm on my shoulder
I open my eyes A stranger said hey man get up Or You’ll freeze. I cursed at him and said go away. Mind your own business.
He said, suit yourself fool. And moved on. Relieved I closed my eyes. Knowing I’m going back home. To the Christmas I’m used to
CHRIST was born today
They found the man frozen. With a smile on his lips. With a smile on his lips. THEY BARELY MANAGED TO STUFF HIM INTO A body BAG. One of the men said that’s the third person today.
And there nowhere He sipped His mulled wine And ate sweet cherry preserve. And ate sweet cherry preserve.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Slobodan is a vendor for One Step Away. He is from Yugoslavia, he’s been selling magazines for 6 years and loves the people of this city, he submits pieces of writing when he’s most available. RANDALL CRAIG
I was in Atlantic City and I slept on the beach in my two new sleeping bags. When I came home on the train, I saw some very large windmills making green energy and I found this inspiring to my green soul. This Christmas season was very special to me. I enjoyed spending time with other vendors. We went to Dilworth Plaza and took photos. We got on the Ferris wheel which is a new attraction and we saw the very large Christmas tree. We enjoyed that too. It was a long time since I’ve been on a Ferris wheel and I was excited and a little frightened but my friends and vendors from One Step Away were with me, so I didn’t mind at all. They were so nice to me. The afternoon helped me capture the Christmas spirit. Thank you One Step Away.
MARIA JAMES
LAST ISSUE’S PUZZLE SOLUTIONS
CROSSWORD
E D I T R E A M S S P A R R E N O E X C E L P E N N A S H Y G O N N A A R E A P O S T A G E S T A M P S R E M A L A R E P E T H P R O M O M O O T I T H E M A G I P I N O N R U E S D E C A L C O M A N I A S S O N A T A M U S L I M P E E E N T R I E S M A O A S I F E O N M O S T T A L E N T S C O U T P A I S A N O E A R L I E R A B E T T O R A N A L O G Y T A S S E L S M E L A N G E WORD SEARCH
M A R M A L A D E Q O J A Y S B E R L I N C C L O U T D S H P I L N E R A S U R E E I D A S K I D S B M C R A C K E R N Q X N O B D E A H O L E X N A Y F X A L R L U F R E E H S N C A S S U R V I V O R S X O A S L Z C E Y E S S T U O T A K W L D Z S L T P P R V I C S M E H I E I U O E W A S P E I A E A O X C T C C R T S K P S N T L E W X S O T R E A I F U 2 Z A E O F C L A B C M H A F J G R B L M U D D E V O P A O A C M K F C D O O R S T O T O M
SUDOKU 1
SUDOKU 2
