Raquel

Pretty much every day...at some point during the day...and most of the time...you will see a lady sitting either on the ground to the right of the Hollywood United Methodist Church parking lot...or on the front staircase...outside of the entrance.   

I've posted photos of her before.

Anybody who travels Highland and makes a right onto Franklin...has seen her. 

I have.  Almost every single time I pass by...which is often.  For three years now.

One night...we had leftovers and rather than bringing them home...we decided to stop and see if maybe she wanted them.   Bradley and the girls pulled our car into the parking lot and waited for me.

When I arrived at her spot on the sidewalk...I could tell that others had provided food. 

Up close...the woman was small.  Petite and very alert.  Like a skittish animal.  On high alert. 

She gladly accepted my offering. 

When I asked her her name...she looked at me confused.

"Your name.  What's your name?"

"Raquel."

I bent down.  To get closer.  

Then it's as if she changed her mind.

"No.  No.  No."

She wanted no further conversation...so I left her. 

With two to go boxes filled with leftover Mexican food.