The street lawyer.-

-Tell me, I said, I need to know, Do you live in a shelter?




-Not now, she said. I live in a car. I sleep in the back.





I poured two large paper cups full of coffee and we went into my office.-What can I do for you?I asked.






With both bands on the coffee cup, to keep warm, and without looking at me, she told me her story. She and her son Terence lived in a small apartment. When Terence was about ten, she went to prison for four months, but when Ruby came out of prison they had lost the apartment.




When Terence lived with her sister those four months for selling drugs. Terence lived with her sister those four months, but when Ruby came out of prison they had lost the apartment. She and Terence slept in cars, warehouses and under bridges in warm weather. When it was cold, they went to the shelters.She could not stop taking drugs.






A few years back she had worked for a couple called Rowlands. Their children were grown and away from home.





Ruby offered to pay Mr and Mrs. Rowlands were not sure at first but in the end they agreed.





Terence had a small bedroom at the Rowlands House. He started to get good grades at school. The Rowlands were good people. Ruby was allowed to visit Terence for an hour each night.






With great difficulty, she managed to pay each month as agreed. She was pleased with herself.






Until she wanted to prison again. She could not stop taking drugs. And now Terence did not want to talk to her. He wanted to join the army- Mr Rowlands was an army man. One night Ruby took some drugs and then went to the Rowlands' house, She screamed and shouted and the Rowlands and Terence threw her out.







The next day the Rowlands started a lawsuit. They wanted Terence to become their son. Ruby was not allowed to visit him until she stopped taking drugs.






-I want to see my son. she said, I miss him so bad.







-You wont see Terence until you stop the drugs. I said trying to say it nicely. I had to get her onto a drugs program.






Sofia knew where Ruby should go. Sofia knew everything and everybody. She made a phone call and then Ruby and I were on our way to Noami women Center on 10 Street.







It opened at seven, closed at four, and between those hours helped women with a drug problem.





I spoke with Megan, the Young man in charge of Naomi. We had a long talk. It was the first long talk I had had with anyone in a long time.