just my thoughts...

company: the orphanage

A man came to the desk, meek and embarrassed that he had some old fines.

“The truth is, I was evicted from my house and the library books got stuck out on the street. But I’m trying to get my life together. Now I’m staying at a place that’s good. See, I got shot here” [pointing at the left side of his face] “and here” [holding up his hand] “but I’m ready to get back on track. I can’t pay my fines right now, but I will. But I need to use the computer. Try to find a job and such.”

He looked down as he said it. I asked him his name. Waived his fines. “It’s time for a fresh start,” I said.

“Wow!” he said. “Thank you. It’s hard for me to ask for help. My pride…you know.”

And he asked how much I waived and I gave him a hint.

A few years ago the blog Humans of New York posted a picture of Lin Manuel Miranda, his wife, and their baby the day after he was born.

Tonight I had the opportunity to hear a speech by Brandon Stanton, and was fortunate to be able to ask him about this photo.

After In The Heights was on Broadway, and in the six year Lin had disappeared to work on Hamilton, Lin messaged Stanton on twitter, telling him that if he was ever in Washington Heights. Stanton didn’t know who he was, but kept it in his mind.

A little while later, Stanton was in Washington Heights, and in need of a Spanish Translator.  So he messaged Lin on Twitter, seeing if he was around.

That was the day that Lin and his wife had returned with their son from the hospital, and that is the story behind the photo.