liquor store run

the other day i went to the liquor store
to buy some alcohol
with the last 20 dollar bill i had in my pocket.
a man across the street
sat bound to his wheel chair by his one leg,
trying to flag me down.
 
"come here!" he slurred, swinging his arm wildly,
beckoning me to his side.
 
"i've got places to be, man, got things to do!" i lied,
throwing his greeting back to him in a salutation.
 
frustrated and defiant, he began to wheel over to me,
tipping onto the concrete on his way
as he rolled off of the curb.
 
i stood for a moment
dumb struck,
and considered
for a moment  
getting into my car
and embracing my lie
just simply because  
it  
would  
be easier.  
 
a man who had just arrived at his vehicle as well,
balding and sad,
took my mental lead
and proceeded to load his liquor,
get into his car,
and attempt to drive away
until i shouted in earnest that surprised even me,
"are you fucking kidding me?"
 
together the stranger and i
crossed the street
and lifted the crippled drunk,
who reeked of piss and social injustice,
while spectators idled,
unwilling to cross the line of dichotomy
between the man on his last leg
and themselves on their last twenty dollar bill.