Curtis and the bling
The first thing you notice about Curtis is the bling. He’s got a long, triple-wide rhinestone necklace plus earrings that he wears every day. Today it’s worn over a black tee and jeans. Curtis is a tall, quiet-spoken guy who somehow ends up talking to the all the girls.
The first thing he’ll share is that he’s looking for a job. He was laid off recently from HISD where he worked in food service. He’s also studying for the math portion of his GED. Once that’s out of the way he plans to attend trade school for auto mechanics and get certified as a canine dog handler.
That’s his real goal – to be a police officer on the canine patrol. “I like dogs that are intelligent and police dogs are very friendly and intelligent,” said Curtis. “Plus, I like to help other people. I’m always helping someone else.”
Asked what he’d tell other kids out there, Curtis said, “If they can, they should try and come here to make a better life for themselves because nothing good ever comes out of being on the street. Do what you need to do to live independently.”
Curtis, right, hangs out with girls. (Photo by Smiley N. Pool)
