"Always smile"

A conversation with Mr. Paul

How are you today?

“I’m great! It’s beautiful out and people are in a giving spirit [shakes his cup of change]. I’m happy today!”

Tell me about yourself, Paul

“I’m 63 years old. I come up to Harvard Square all the time, walk around, meet people and all that, be nice to ‘em, try to make a little change for the bus to get home. My hometown is South Shore Quincy, a town Germantown. I go there all the time. I’m going to go down to see my aunt in a couple of Saturdays.”

What do you like to do?

“I do a lot of things; I go anywhere—uh, what else do I do? I’m a bingo player. I go to the Church on Friday nights and play bingo.”

What’s your favorite thing to do?

"Going to Foxwood Casino! I’m going for my birthday! I also like to walk around, look in the stores, go in the stores, try on stuff, ya know!"

What’s your biggest struggle?

“Well, everything is pretty good today. I can’t complain much. Usually I just have trouble finding something to eat.”

You said you can’t complain much. What can you complain about?

“Well, at the shelter I’m staying at, they make us work for our food in the evening. Other shelters I was at they just gave us meals. Also, it feels like a prison because there aren’t any windows. Our rooms are in the basement so there isn’t any natural light.”

What’s something that people can do to help you?

"Well, I really just need a few bucks each day to make end’s meet. Not much more than that."

Before we go, do you have any advice for people?

"Yeah, totally: Always smile. Even through the pain. Sometimes faking a smile long enough when you’re sad will make you forget why you were sad in the first place."