deepundergroundpoetry.com
Charity Gone Ambivalent
On my way into 7/11 I noticed a 60-ish man with veteran fashion sensibilities sitting in a wheelchair in front of the store. It was about 1 A.m. He has 1 leg --- it`s prosthetic.
My adopted procedure in this situation ( learned from Dan Richard ) Is to buy the person a sandwich , a drink - fruit and maybe some chips. Dan`s theory being that he does not want to give money that will very likely end up in some vice-like habit.
I got him a chicken breast and provolone on pita with mayo, 2 bananas, and a bag of plain Lays potato chips - -the most bland, generic meal I could find ---thinking its the lowest common denominator that most people would bring themselves to eating.
They could eat as-is, toss the chicken and eat the chesse , toss the cheese and eat the chicken , scrape off the mayo, even just eat the bread I figured there was something there salvageable for almost everyone.
I do confess I got him a can of Heinekin cause. I was in there at 1 AM for 2 24s of Becks -- so I didn't want to be a hypocrite.
Feeling all warm and fuzzy about myself -- I noticed that the man had left while I was shopping. I noticed him entering an ATM drive through. He was punching info into the keypad when I pulled in. I got out of my car and handed him the bag and said -- " I got this stuff for you --- but I didn't know what to do".
He was pleasant and laughed , but waved me off --- pointing to the ATM -- I guess an indication that he didn't need any charity. He was gonna take out some cash -- or perhaps bust into the MF and take it all.
I was said "well....I don't eat any of this stuff --- so here take it" --- and I didn't even extract the Heinekin before transferring the bag. He took it , laughing, but had no real reason to say "thanks, unless of course ... for the FUCKING THOUGHT.
My adopted procedure in this situation ( learned from Dan Richard ) Is to buy the person a sandwich , a drink - fruit and maybe some chips. Dan`s theory being that he does not want to give money that will very likely end up in some vice-like habit.
I got him a chicken breast and provolone on pita with mayo, 2 bananas, and a bag of plain Lays potato chips - -the most bland, generic meal I could find ---thinking its the lowest common denominator that most people would bring themselves to eating.
They could eat as-is, toss the chicken and eat the chesse , toss the cheese and eat the chicken , scrape off the mayo, even just eat the bread I figured there was something there salvageable for almost everyone.
I do confess I got him a can of Heinekin cause. I was in there at 1 AM for 2 24s of Becks -- so I didn't want to be a hypocrite.
Feeling all warm and fuzzy about myself -- I noticed that the man had left while I was shopping. I noticed him entering an ATM drive through. He was punching info into the keypad when I pulled in. I got out of my car and handed him the bag and said -- " I got this stuff for you --- but I didn't know what to do".
He was pleasant and laughed , but waved me off --- pointing to the ATM -- I guess an indication that he didn't need any charity. He was gonna take out some cash -- or perhaps bust into the MF and take it all.
I was said "well....I don't eat any of this stuff --- so here take it" --- and I didn't even extract the Heinekin before transferring the bag. He took it , laughing, but had no real reason to say "thanks, unless of course ... for the FUCKING THOUGHT.
Published 2nd Jul 2015
All writing remains the property of the author. Don't use it for any purpose without their permission.
likes 3
reading list entries 0
comments 3
reads 731
Commenting Preference:
The author encourages honest critique.
2nd Jul 2015 11:53am
Generosity is rare these days- thankfulness- rarer
some of the richest cats I've ever known- look homeless- or are decked out in farmer garb.
seems many folks walk to ways....we'd like to save the world- or burn it down!!!
Rock on brother!!!
some of the richest cats I've ever known- look homeless- or are decked out in farmer garb.
seems many folks walk to ways....we'd like to save the world- or burn it down!!!
Rock on brother!!!
2nd Jul 2015 7:43pm
2nd Jul 2015 8:32pm
