Charlie

I see him on the corner,

Holding his sign

Be-bopping to music

Only in his mind.

A simple soul,

A little boy

In the grown man's body,

Brain not quite whole.

His smile, contagious

His work ethic strong.

He waves his sign, all day long.

I think of his mom

Wonderful schemes

Plans for her child

But he's not what he seems

A child forever,

Shattered dreams.

But he's happy on his corner,

Holding his sign

Be-bopping to music

Only in his mind.

I've seen him many times since this particular sub shop has three locations in our town.  Once he was taking his break inside the store, and I overheard a conversation between him and a co-worker.  "Get out of here, Charlie.  Go wave your sign."  

"Not yet.  Charlie gets a break.  Charlie gets his coke.  Charlie has three minutes." 

"Well don't hang out here, we've got customers."

"Charlie can help."

"We don't want your help, Charlie, just go."

"Charlie has two minutes left." 

He finished his break, picked up his sign, and went outside.

The workers then threw some nasty comments his way about his intelligence, his speech, etc.

I'd say it would be the rude co-workers who lack the intelligence to deal with anything different.

You go, Charlie.  I'm rooting for you.