The bearded man stood on the marble stairs of the park’s stage and raised his Big Gulp cup over his head. “Drink deeply and live!”

Five onlookers watched him with faint curiosity. This was new.

He paused to wipe rub his face on a worn and well-stained s…

The street was busy, noisy. People traveled quickly because the dark alleys snaking away hid secrets they refused to acknowledge. Cars honked impatiently as lights turned green and pedestrians clogged the crossings.

For hours, days, weeks, months, he sat…