When the author meets Nathaniel, he meets a homeless person who is playing the violin on the streets in a decrepit condition, but his playing is beautiful and makes people stop. He learns that N. had been a promising student at Julliard playing classical bass. He was then charming and ambitious and one of the few black musicians at the school, approx. 30 years ago. Due to mental illness he slowly looses his ability to function, overcome by a mental breakdown. He is now a loner, deeply suspicious of everyone and very troubled, sleeping outside, with a shopping cart full of things. Every here and there is a glimmer of his old brilliance. As it is in this country, there is no governmental help for these sick people. The author tries to befriend him very very slowly to write another column and there is eventually some communication. Their bond takes a long time to grow and he keeps writing about the musician i and also wonders how he can change Nathaniel's life. It all goes slowly, first finding him some lodging, reconnecting him with his family (he objects to every step strongly.) The author does not give up, reconnecting him with his old life with crushing disappointments. At the end Lopez find that not only his own life is profoundly changed but Nathaniel's also. Nathaniel will never be a "regular" person, he will also be sick, but he is able to function in a certain better way. It's a true story and also it is also true is that are many many "Nathaniel's" in the streets that never get hospitalized or get help in this glorious America. Bad, sad, unforgivable.
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