jcm71
Member
I am a regular vendor at the Knoxville Farmers Market, which is held every Saturday from 9am to 1pm. I usually arrive there at 7am for setup, and am usually done by 8am, after which I usually go visit with nearby vendors. This past Saturday as I was visiting, I saw someone at my booth, which was about 100 feet away, so I said my goodbyes and returned to my booth. My potential customer was a completely emmaciated young woman either in her late teens or early twenties. She was about 5 ft 2" and weighed no more than 90 pounds. She had five of my pens in her hands, and looked completely confused and disoriented. she Was dressed in a single piece smock, which was soaking wet. I found out later that she had been "bathing" in a local fountain. I gently took the pens from her, at which point she kept asking if she could have one. I gently told her no, at which point she got distraught (not violently) but lost control of her bladder and urinated right there beside my booth. After a few moments she wandered several feet away and sat on a railing. The vendor next to me went and got the policeman on duty, and he eventually took her away in handcuffs. Another vendor brought me some sanitary wipes so I could clean my hands, and the market staff was Johnny on the spot in getting a maintenance crew to my booth to clean up the mess. They told me that they regularly have to clean up human waste during the week, as Market Square is a major gathering spot for the homeless during the week. I sincerely hope she gets the help she needs.
On a brighter note, I had one of my best days ever at the market,
On a brighter note, I had one of my best days ever at the market,
