Charity

The other day nh took the boys to Bookman's for a little shopping. When they left she was approached by a guy we see in our neighborhood sometimes. He got nothing from just above the knees down. His hands are weathered like his green army jacket - a veteran.

nh opened the vehicle door to get the little ones in when he rolled over in his chair and asked for a sandwich. She looked in her wallet for cash, but only had a twenty so she offered to buy him a sandwich at a shop right there. He said, "Okay, just get it in a to-go bag and I'll meet you outside the sandwich shop."

nh unloaded the boys and walked to the shop. She waited in line, ordered the sandwich, paid, and waited for it to be done while entertaining the boys. When the sandwich was done she walked outside and couldn't see the guy anywhere so they walked back to the van. She asked a security guard if he'd seen the man and the security guard pointed across the street and said, "Yeah, there he is." The crippled beggar was getting onto the bus.

nh felt "crappy," that the man might have been dishonest with her. It could be that the man was run off by the security guard. It could be he wanted the money for rent, or electric, or medicine or booze. The truth is it doesn't matter. nh was called upon and answered the call. She was frustrated for some time after that. I was sorry she was frustrated, but I'm proud of her.