The Street Lawyer

On the Saturday morning after helping at the soup kitchen, Michael drags himself to work despite physical and mental exhaustion and increasing ennui with his job. Rudolph Mayes visits him in his office and interrogates him about where he has been and the status of his mental health. Michael lies and assures Rudolph he is “a hundred and ten” percent fine and ready to get “back in the saddle” (80).

After leaving the office, Michael purchases toys, clothes, and food and heads to the shelter, intending to give the supplies to Ontario and his family. While Michael helps prepare food, Mordecai arrives, and Michael asks him and Miss Dolly for information about the family, who have now left the shelter. No one knows where they went, but Mordecai assures Michael they will be back at night.

Mordecai takes Michael on a tour of Northwest DC—a less-resourced section of the city—and they eventually end up at the 14th Street Legal Clinic. At the clinic, Mordecai gives Michael more information about the clinic’s history and operations and regales him with stories about clients he has helped. They return to the shelter for the dinner rush. Michael leaves at midnight, disheartened to see no sign of Ontario or his family.