Today as I was going into a convenience store a panhandler
asked for a quarter for a phone call. I searched my pockets for change, but
then finding that I didn't have any, I went inside and asked the clerk if he
would change a dollar.
"You're not giving it to that bum outside?" he
asked me, his voice filled with irritation. "He asked me for a quarter and
I made him leave."
I started to ask the clerk why he cared, and
then realized I probably didn't need to do that. I wasn't sure he'd
understand. But he gave me my change anyway. And I went outside and gave the man the quarter for his phone
call.
Even though I wasn't angry about the clerk's response, on
some level it disturbed me. After all, a quarter is a small thing and sometimes
small things make a difference.
This isn't my first time having this experience. I've handed money to a panhandler and
bystanders actually warn me – as if I didn't understand they might use the
money for drugs or alcohol.
To me it doesn't make a difference whether they're drug
addicts, mentally challenged, or just people down on their luck. In my mind, if
a person's life is so bad they have to ask strangers for help then I'll try to
help them if it's within my means.
