Nomad

I snapped this when I was on my way to meet Rod for lunch. The nomad (I'm being all politically correct by not labeling him a bum, beggar, or a homeless man) gave me a dirty look right after I pressed the shutter. Oops. Busted.

The nomad, for some strange reason, brought Tom & Reba to mind. Any Chicagoan who was around last September would know who I'm talking about.

Many of those who partake in the morning rush on Madison Street know Tom Finley. He is an elderly unemployed man who used to spend his days downtown with his 13-year-old golden mixed breed dog, Reba. He had an apartment that drained all of his monthly Social Security income, so he had to retreat to begging for change on the street in order to provide food for himself & Reba.

He loved Reba as if she was his own child. He got her when she was a puppy and they were practically joined at the hip. Whenever Tom got change, Reba got a treat or a pat on the head. Soon enough, Tom and Reba became regular fixtures in the Loop. They'd hang around and interact with people everyday. Every evening Tom would use the change he had collected that day to buy Reba her favorite McDonald's food, chicken nuggets. Since Reba's two hind legs were lame, Tom used his bike to transport Reba to places.

Because Tom was a friendly soft-spoken man who wouldn't hurt a fly, everyone was drawn to him. Reba's sweet quiet persona contributed to the charm. They were well-known and well-loved in the Loop.

One day last September, Tom tied Reba to a post outside of McDonald's at Jackson & Franklin and went inside to buy chicken nuggets for her. When he came outside a few moments later, Reba was gone. A few people saw the abductor: a middle-aged woman. Some speculated that it was Crazy Mary, a mentally ill woman who spent her days lashing out at people as they left the Oglivie Station on the Madison Street bridge.

Tom went into deep depression. He wouldn't eat, he wouldn't sleep, and he wasn't his usual bubbly self. Many people were concerned about Tom, and more importantly, Reba. Soon enough, people started to pitch in donations for the reward in finding Reba. Some people even urged the Chicago Sun Times to alert its readers about Reba's disappearance, and they eventually gave in. When the reward went up to $600, NBC and Chicago Tribune followed suit and Harris Bank set up a reward fund for Reba. Somebody created a website, www.findreba.com. Some people went as far as contacting Reba McEntire, the dog's namesake, to ask for her help. The Anti-Cruelty Society stepped in and offered a lifetime of free veterinary care for Reba if she ever got found. For Tom, people cooked food, donated items, lent an ear & a shoulder, and many other good deeds. Practically everyone in the city worried about Reba and whether Tom would be happy again.

Finally, two weeks after Reba went missing, a sobbing woman brought Reba, who was clean and well-fed, to the Anti-Cruelty Society and confessed that she took the dog because she felt that Tom was not providing adequate care for her. She refused to accept the reward and left.

Tom was ecstatic to have Reba back. He released a press statement that he forgave the woman and all that mattered was that Reba was back home safe.

The Anti-Cruelty Society owned up to their promise and inspected Reba for free upon her return. They found out that Reba had cancer and they immediately took her under their wing and performed surgery on her. She still accompanied Tom on the street, but she'd visit the Anti-Cruelty Society for check-ups and surgeries.

Her health continued to deteriorate, and she had to go under Anti-Cruelty's full care last March. Tom visited her and brought her food, and Reba would always try to leave with him.

Reba passed away on May 4th, 2008. Tom has her ashes and he has a picture of her in his guitar case. He says that he believes that Reba will come back as another dog.

So this is the story of Tom & Reba.

Time to find out what this nomad's story is.