But his knees were stiff.
He struggled.
Richard watched impatiently.
"Come on."
Sam finally stood.
His cup slipped from his hand.
Coins scattered across the wet sidewalk.
Several rolled toward the street.
Sam bent down to collect them.
Richard sighed.
"Unbelievable."
Sam looked up.
"Sorry."
Richard stepped closer.
"Do you know how much this hotel charges per night?"
Sam shook his head.
"Five hundred?"
Richard laughed.
"Try five thousand."
Sam nodded.
"That's a lot."
"Exactly."
Richard looked toward the hotel's entrance.
"People pay thousands of dollars to stay here because they expect a certain environment."
Sam gathered another coin.
"I understand."
"No, you don't."
Richard pointed at him.
"You are sitting outside a luxury hotel in torn clothes with a cup full of coins."
Sam said nothing.
Richard continued.
"You make the place look cheap."
That sentence hurt.
Sam stopped moving.
He slowly looked at Richard.
"I'm sorry you feel that way."
Richard didn't notice the sadness in his eyes.
He only noticed the dirty coat.
"Don't apologize to me."
"Then who?"
"Just leave."
Sam picked up his last coin.
He placed it inside the cup.
Then he turned away.
Richard stepped behind him.
"Not that way."
Sam stopped.
Richard pointed down the sidewalk.
"Go around the corner."
Sam looked confused.
"Why?"
"Because guests are arriving."
"I'm not blocking the door."
"I don't care."
Richard stepped closer.
"I don't want them seeing you."
Sam stared at him.
For a moment, the old man's face became strangely calm.
"All right."
He walked toward the curb.
Richard followed.
Then something happened.
A taxi stopped near the entrance.
A wealthy couple stepped out.
Richard immediately smiled.
"Good morning."
The couple smiled back.
The woman glanced at Sam.
She looked uncomfortable.
Richard noticed.
He walked toward Sam.
"Keep moving."
Sam looked at him.
"I'm going."
"Faster."
Sam began walking.
His right foot dragged slightly.
He was limping.
Richard grew impatient.
He grabbed Sam's shoulder.
Sam stumbled.
The paper cup fell.
Coins scattered again.
A few guests gasped.
Sam caught himself against a lamppost.
Richard looked around.
"Don't make a scene."
Sam's eyes were wet.
"I wasn't."
Richard pointed.
"Pick up your things."
Sam slowly bent down.
He gathered the coins.
Then Richard said something that several people nearby would never forget.
"People like you should be grateful we let you sit here at all."
Sam froze.
The street seemed to become silent.
He slowly straightened.
He looked at Richard.
"People like me?"
Richard shrugged.
"You know what I mean."
Sam stared at him.
Then he smiled.
It was not an angry smile.
It was almost sad.
"No."
Richard frowned.
"I don't think you do."
Sam looked at the hotel.
Then at Richard.
"I don't think you know anything about me."
Richard laughed.
"I know enough."
Sam picked up his cup.
He turned away.
But before he could leave, his phone rang.
Richard stared.
A homeless man carrying a smartphone.