How does the writer document hard times?

The writer shares several stories of “entrepreneurs”, but not the typical ones, we are used to seeing on Shark Tank. These hard working entrepreneurs do everything they can from filling people’s gas tanks, to repairing their brakes on the side of the road, for only a quarter the price a store mechanic would charge. They are not the usual workers, but they are far from lazy, and even further from giving up. Green, for example has been opening doors for people at a Mobil gas station for 5 years. All he wants is to cover rent and eat.

How and where does the writer bring money into his story?

The writer brings money into the story, to depict how little some of these men earn.” An hour workday can land a gas pumper about $50, and for the more energetic ones, maybe more.” Earning $50 a day for most is unacceptable but for these men it’s enough to cover their necessities and that is enough for them. They live fairly simple lives, and all they desire is a roof under their heads, and some food in their bellies.  They have come to terms with their situations and continue to “hustle.”  The author later gives examples of rent costs. For example Mr Joseph, a street mechanic, “usually earns $150 a day, which helps him pay the $950 monthly rent for his one-bedroom apartment.”

Do you think the lead is effective? If so, why?

The lead is definitely effective in captivating the reader’s attention, without giving too much away. This particular lead gives very few details, on the identities of the characters, but simultaneously by referring to them as “urban foragers,” the author provides us with a basic idea of their lifestyle. That is enough to make the reader want more.