leroy’s art gallery

I’ve had the opportunity to ride the bus many times in the past seven years while accompanying my students.  It was about seven years ago that I first met LeRoy.  He is a middle-aged man with disabilities that rides the bus to his job each day.  He carries with him a portfolio full of his artwork, which is done on various different kinds of “scrap” paper, usually wrinkled and torn.

Each time that I run into LeRoy, he undoubtedly strikes up a conversation with someone/anyone on the bus.  It goes something like this:

LeRoy:  Would you like to see some of my art?

bus patron:  um, ok.

LeRoy:  (pulling some krinkled up pieces of paper from his portfolio)  See..?

bus patron:  nice work.

LeRoy:  What’s it worth to ya?

bus patron:  I don’t have any money.

LeRoy:  Oh, ok.

I have seen this take place so many times and have gotten so fond of seeing LeRoy.  I came across him again the other day.  He had written “LeRoy’s Art Gallery” on the back of his jacket with black marker.  I grinned when I saw it.  I usually don’t ever have cash on my person, but I happened to have a dollar in my purse.  I waited about five minutes before LeRoy struck up his usual conversation with one of the patrons.  When they turned him down, I grabbed my dollar and offered to buy one of his “pieces”.  He quickly agreed to that amount and handed me the above picture, which is drawn on the back of one of his old time cards.  He kept grinning at me for the rest of the trip and finally asked me, “Are you gonna put it in a frame?”.  I told him, “Absolutely”. 

I think it’s beautiful.  I love people with disabilities.

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