December 09, 2005
Yesterday, late afternoon, I was standing at the stop up the street from where I live.
I was en route to work... a lecture on one of the exhibits. There was another person, a man, standing at the stop as well, when a pauper (of Tyrone Biggums proportions), appeared out of nowhere.
"Excuse me, man, can you help me out? I need to get something to eat."
"Sorry, I don't have anything" the man said rather brusquely, shaking his head.
I stiffened up, waiting for my turn. Pauper turned to me, and asked me for money.
"Sorry..." I said, shaking my head.
For some reason Pauper tried a little harder with me...
"I only got like 5 cents. I'm hungry and I'm tryin' to get somethin' to eat."
I shrugged... thinking of my own impoverished status, and how I manage to bust my duff everyday to make the piddly ducats that barely feeds me. No way I'm just going to give it away. I also had a flashback to that Saturday after Thanksgiving, the other pauper tried to cuss me out.
"Alright then" he said, dejected.
I watched him go halfway up the street... then I looked down at the white shopping bag I was holding... a whole container, packed full of fettucine swathed in burgundy wine tomato sauce.... my dinner I was going to eat, for I was slated to work that night's program until about 9pm.
"Hey, sir!" I yelled after him.
He turned around, eyes wide and eager. He hurried back towards me.
"Hey, if you're hungry, why don't you take this." I said, holding the bag out towards him. Challenging him to see if he was really hungry for food or for a fix.
A brief staredown ensued, as he pretended to consider the offer... eyes darting down at the bag, and then back up at me. My stare was unwavering. (insert that whistly, cowboy, face off music here) ... He didn't let me down.
"Um, what is it?" he asked, almost disdainfully... because I had the unmitigated gall to offer him the food and not the chump change.
"Pasta and sauce" I told him. A smirk dancing at the corners of my mouth.
"Oh, sorry, I don't like spaghetti."
I shrugged indifferently and said, "O-kay." and snatched my dinner back, amazed at his snobbery and choiciness, considering his current state. People who're hungry take what they can get.
Pauper held out his ashy fist for dap, to thank me, I'm assuming. I held out my leather gloved fist and dapped him back. "Good luck man." I said, wondering if I should offer him some hand creme, as well.
With that, Pauper hurried down the street, to shake down some other unsuspecting victim.
I looked across at the man who was standing at the stop, and turned up the corners of my mouth.
"I knew he wasn't going to take that food. It never fails. Everytime I offer up the food, they never accept it" I said.
"What, it didn't have the right chemical?" he joked.
"Apparently not." I smirked, as I bid him farewell, and got ready to board the approaching bus.
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4 comments
Think of it this way...at least he dapped you. My favorite homeless guy who I give money to when I see has a sign that says: "Why lie, I just wanna get a beer." That is worth my change.
My favorite, when I was near you a few years back (yes, I've been there for a few things.) was a guy who tried hitting me up for bus fare, saying his car was in the shop with a broken transmission. Except... this guy got a 'Bums Rush' reply from me.. This time.. Apparently, the guy was a repeat offender.. Because a few years back, at the stop at central row, I was asked, by the SAME guy! Now, why he was over by the blue chip, asking for the same reason, kinds of made me a little sour.. My reply this time, instead of handing him a spare 4-bits, was 'Odd.. You asked me the same thing 2 years ago, and I would think by now, you would've gotten it fixed." and promptly drove off. Such is life.. LMAO! at Amadeo's comment.. I saw such a picture awhile back, A friend emailed it to me.. Can't remember what site it came from.. Hey, It's like you said.. If the guy really , TRUELY was hungry, He would've eaten anything offered.. I know it's cold, and heartless to tell beggers you can't help them, but it's even more disheartening, when you do offer them a little help of what they're saying they need, but refuse, it just hardens you a little more.
i love the honest ones... but man this is a dope story
oh coffee that is so fucking funny!~
just like yesterday i contemplated about beggars and homeless people once more, as i often do in los angeles, because, man, here are so many of them.
i mostly say no but when they do something for it, like juggling or plalying terribly bad guitar or something i find it easier to give something to them....
but yeah, yesterday i thought about you and how i was sure, for some reason, that you would not give any money to this guy and how you would probably think that he is a - ha, don't laugh! - a chooser, so to say and then i contemplated about whether or not you actually come across as arrogant or not to me.....and i decided not (well, not that i would matter to you in the end of the day, but just for the record...)
because i think you are right. and i do the food thing too every now and then with the same results...
i like those beggars better who have those signs saying 'why lying, i need a beer!' but i still won't give them money. fuck. if i'd be payed for being honest i would be a freakin millionaire by now. fuck!
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