RICKIE CORBETT


RICKIE CORBETT

His Turf was on my block and he usually sat outside Popeyes in his wheelchair where he asked for change or anything you could spare. Everyone who saw Rickie knew he had a great eye for fashion, cause he was always the best dressed homeless guy on the block. We always talked a little every time I saw him. Once we bonded over Midnight, a little puppy he was dog sitting.

One late evening, jumping out of my cab, he randomly was right in front of my building on his way to the shelter and he looked like a movie star. I gushed over how handsome he looked. “I went to church today. I gotta look good in church. Last time I was in church it was trouble" Rickie says holding his white hat smiling. Popeyes Rickie became Rickie Corbett. A Park Slope native, one out of 14 siblings and a single father to a son at only 15 years old. Last time he went to church he almost broke a mans neck but added for a really good reason. I tried probing him for the reason, but he said, “Nah too hard to talk about”, so I didn’t push the subject. We talked for half an hour and for the first time he let me take his photo. I even remember the date, September 8th 2014. His mum passed away exactly a year before, September 8th 2013. Rickie had told me this date before on one of our shorter talks when I handed him change infront of Popeyes. I only had my iphone on me, but I thought better to capture him with an camera phone than no camera at all.

A few months after, in December, I ran to his corner. I had a Christmas present for him. It was a framed photograph from our evening and a few more stills. Rickie smiled at me and said: "I know what this is”. He hid the package in his wheelchair, gave me a sweet blessing and continued his day by Popeyes.

When I came back in January after my trip home, I went out to find him. It had gotten much colder and he was no where to be found. Daily passing his spot I hoped I would see him as spring came nearer but still no Rickie and none of his friends knew where he had disappeared to. I pretend he won the lottery, and was able to get the healthcare he needed and a warm and safe place to call home. Maybe he is catching up on his reading and fashion. He always told me he really loved fashion. Here is to Rickie, where ever he is. No where to be found but never forgotten. Bed-Stuy New York 2014.

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