Mears-Starbuck must have had thousands of applications on hand. I couldn't believe they had chosen me. It was a department store with branches in many cities. The next Monday, there I was walking to work with my lunch in a brown paper bag. The department store was only a few blocks away from my former high school. I still didn't understand why I had been selected. After filling out the application, the interview had lasted only a few minutes. I must have given all the right answers. First paycheck I get, I thought, I'm going to get myself a room near the downtown L.A. Public Library. As I walked along I didn't feel so alone and I wasn't.