At the Union Rescue Mission dinner, a girl named Khaliyah, 11, sat next to me with her homework on "Major Events of the Civil War." After dinner, she read a book called "Goosebumps" to Tyrese, and Tyrell used my notebook to show me his spelling prowess.
A 14-year-old named James pulled out an Irish blessing he had written in longhand.
"\o7May you have warm words on a dark night and the road downhill all the way to your door."
\f7James told me that when he grows up, he's going to start a super-profitable computer company so he can "clean up."
Clean up what? I asked.
"Clean up the world," he said. "There's lots of poverty and suffering in every country."
It was karaoke night at the corner church, and I went with Tyrese, who wore loud orange Hawaiian shorts and tugged me by the hand, and Tyrell, who wanted to be carried. The boys maneuvered around tents and sleeping bags set up on the sidewalk and made their way into a cavernous, warm and crowded room filled with folks like them -- folks who know humility and dignity.
Tyrese put in his name to sing, then went for a slice of pizza. He and Tyrell played with other kids and jumped up on the laps of adults they know. Their mother watched, a little sad, a lot proud. They've been such good soldiers, always traveling, and this isn't the destination she ever had in mind. But for now, it's home. The boys clapped and hooted their appreciation for one performer after another, occasionally jumping up to dance or sing along.
"I Found Love on a Two-Way Street," "I Will Survive," "What A Beautiful World."
When the call came, Tyrese grabbed a microphone and stomped up to the stage with three little friends to let it rip.
James Brown would have been proud.
\o7"I feel good!\f7" Tyrese sang.
"So good, so good. I got you.
"Hey!"
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\o7Reach the columnist at steve.lopez@latimes.com and read previous columns at www.latimes.com/lopez
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