~~~
This March Writing Challenge of thirty-one questions is hosted by Marquessa, with questions from Alexandra Franzen‘s “100 questions to spark conversation and connect.
All are welcome to join in and a list of the questions can be found here.
~~~
It really depends on the situation, but I do try to help.
I rarely give cash but have no problem buying a meal for someone.
However, sometimes it’s not about cash or food.
Years ago, I was out for dinner and a movie with my late husband and his brother. An old guy was sitting on the ground, leaning back against a storefront. He said something as we passed that I couldn’t hear and Den and Larry ignored. They kept walking but I turned around.
It was a cold night, but except for a dirty trench coat, all he was wearing was a beat up pair of house slippers and pajama pants that were too short for his lanky, thin frame.
Den tried to pull me away, but I wouldn’t budge. Then he and Larry got on either side of me and tried to pull me away together, and I began the Mother of all Meltdowns!
Did I mention I was seven months pregnant with our first child?
Yeah. Every emotion went on full blast as I bawled and wailed about how he could be someone’s father and grandfather and shouldn’t be sitting on the cold ground on a dark San Bernardino side street.
They knew they wouldn’t win this one and just as they began forming a plan… a cop drove through the intersection. Den flagged him over. He questioned the guy and found out he was a veteran who was SUPPOSED to have been moved from the local hospital to the VA, but instead some guy he didn’t know put him in a van and dropped him off downtown.
I was furious! No way some random guy took him from the hospital without them arranging it… but that’s a rant for another day.
The officer called someone who was also a vet, and he came and picked the guy up—found out his name was Glen—and said he’d give him dinner and a warm bed for the night and promised to get him to the VA in the morning.
I was satisfied. Den and Larry kept apologizing for being shallow and flippant, but I wasn’t upset with them. Panhandlers and street people are invisible to society for a variety of reasons. People will go out of their way to not engage with them.
While it may be rare, sometimes they’re not looking for a handout or even a meal, but for a few minutes of your time.
~~~
Felicia, you have a beautiful and caring heart.I’m glad to hear the vet was able to get the help he needed.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Pamela! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
You have a huge heart! I could picture that as a scene in one of your stories!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Compassion was a big thing for my parents. I know for a fact Daddy helped out people he didn’t particularly care for because they were in need. He always said we never knew when it could be us on the receiving end.
LikeLike
He was a very wise man.
LikeLike