There are a few times, when one can make a real difference.
I rarely, if ever have cash, let alone "change" on my person. A defense mechanism, learned, and applied.
The other day, I stopped to get fuel. I was approached and asked for change to "buy gas." As I had no change, I politely declined the request for assistance.
The individual immediately went to the next vehicle over, and asked again the same question, this time offering to at least grab the gas station's 'island tools' and wash windows... all he asked for was $0.25, to make $4.00, so he could buy a gallon of gas.
This is when I looked over.
A car. A woman and two children around it. It was there when I pulled in. The smallest child was playing. This made me smile! As hard as it was for them, this little child found the time to make the best of the situation, and was actually imagining and playing around the gas pump and barriers! This then made me frown. How could a parent let their child be exposed to such a dangerous environment and situation!
Then, as I finished filling up my tank, I noticed and heard the individual, who just approached me asking for assistance, approach almost every other person down the pumps, just asking for a quarter to make an even dollar, to buy a few gallons of gas. He then went to the big dvd rental box & water filling station to check for change. All the while, the car and family remained.
I ended up going into the store and bought a few items, and added $20.00 for the gas on pump #14, where the car in question, was parked at.
As I exited, I walked up to the individual, who was now at the car.
I simply asked, where are you going?
The reply was, "Home. We just ran out of gas."
As long as this story has been, I will end it quickly!
My reply, "Then go home. I have no change, yet there is $20.00 on that pump." I was immediately thanked and offered the $5.25 he had collected so far. I declined.
Am I a sucker? Did I play into it? Perhaps. If so, he is a better man than me.
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