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Beggars Can't Be Choosers, Nor Can They Be Creative
This morning I attempted to pull out of our parking lot, but only got as far as the alley next to our building before I was stopped by a very raggedy, beat-up car with duct tape holding the driver's door on. I looked around for the driver, and noticed a disheveld man walking towards me. "Ah," I thought, "Someone else needs bus money or gas money or prescription medicine money."
But then I had a flash of deja vu. I had seen this particular beggar before, and as soon as he opened his mouth (his car was blocking the road so I couldn't drive away) claiming that his wife had "run the car out of gas" and that he "only has 12 cents on him" and asking if he could "have some money to buy gas" I knew from where. He had given me the same song and dance at the hotel where my Dad was staying when he came here during spring break...a hotel by the airport.
Not only does this guy get gas money, he gets enough of it to really expand his territory. He wasn't about to get any from me, though, not using the same story like that. Show some variety, and maybe I'll open my wallet. Give me a little Nigerian Scam action maybe, offer me $3.5 million if I agree to give him my bank account number.
Or at least make up a story that doesn't involve a wife who is clearly not present.
Comments
Hmm...I should try that. I mean, my car's really two different colors anyway....
Posted by: Brian at April 27, 2004 10:35 PM
I love the title on this post. I can see it being a New York Times headline for some reason.
Posted by: Rachel at April 28, 2004 2:01 PM
I've seen this guy. He asked me for money yesterday in front of Kayak's with the same line, then rudely walked away when I said all i had was a credit card. I felt bad about it, too, until I read your post.
Posted by: Miranda at May 10, 2004 11:35 PM
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