An abandoned shopping cart, known on the street only as “Barry,” was found dead two days ago, a few hundred feet from the store it was taken from this past Thanksgiving.

While attempting to turn the deceased cart into a make-shift rotisserie barbecue, a local opportunist found a diary Barry had kept the last few years.

Published below, excerpts from that diary shed some light on Barry’s final days and weeks, adding another sad chapter to the tragic story of society’s forgotten.

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Dear Diary,

I wasn’t sure I could survive another Thanksgiving at the store. Despite my fears, it’s turning out to be a great holiday. After 15 years on the job, I was afraid the weight of canned cranberries and frozen turkeys would’ve finally buckled my weary frame for good. Luckily – not sure if I should call it luck just yet, though – I drew home delivery detail, on the only day when being in the streets is better than being in the aisles. In fact, all I’ve had to haul so far was a few dozen Hungry Man dinners, part of an old lawnmower and two Genny Cream Ale thirty packs. What a cinch. Had a nice, thoughtful talk with Rodney, my pusher, too. And both he and the load were gentle on the cage, surprisingly.

Friday, November 23, 2007

Dear Diary,