Tenderloin. 11:11pm

A woman and two kids ring the bell at the women’s shelter. The kids are about 9 and 6, with dirty Starter coats and backpacks. The older one waits with no expression. The younger walks backwards on the sidewalk, playfully, with curiosity, as children do. A man, next to a green tent, is stopped over and rocking. Standing in pee and his pants are around his knees, I smelled it as I walked to my car. The child gets some feet from the man, turns around in a small gasp and flees back to his mom. I wonder how it must feel to scare children. I sit in my car, eating an orange. I feel like a failure.