"Can you spare any change for food?"

[shadeaux]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2454774

DainBramaged  (1000+ posts)        Fri Dec-09-11 04:18 PM

Original message

"Can you spare any change for food?"
 
 Edited on Fri Dec-09-11 04:23 PM by DainBramaged

That comment stunned me as I exited my local supermarket earlier this afternoon. I turned, and there sitting as if everything was great on this sunny day, reading a newspaper like they belonged, was a young couple. First glance, well dressed, not dirty, no 'meth marks' on their faces. Neither smoking. He shaggy blond hair sticking out from under a ski cap, her dark hair under a hoodie. Nice coats, nice boots on both.


"Is it for food or drugs and booze?"


No sir (huh, sir, are you shitting me?) we're hungry and we have no money.


You have split seconds to think how to respond without being hostile appearing or judgemental.

"Can I buy you lunch?"

YES sir, yes sir you can!"


I had just come out of the market, $43.00 in food for most of the week. Fits in a couple of cloth bags. I had a $20 as the change.

"I need to put this in my car, I'll be right back"

OK, we'll wait."


Polite, good teeth, pretty warmly dressed, but there was this edge, they didn't seem to be 'average' homeless.

Stuff in the car, walking back. I think, what is it, stray dogs and cats, dozens of people coming in and out, they asked me. I'm no angel, but my angels keep me grounded.


"Pizza good?"

Yes sir, if it's hot, we're happy!"

We walk down the mall to the pizza joint. "Where are you from?" Not around here sir."

"Are you both older than 18?" " Yes sir, I'm 23, my sister is 21."


Their names are Rich and Pat. I took it as truth. I have no reason to doubt them.


We got to the pizza joint and found a booth. "How about hot subs instead of pizza, I'm sure you get that a lot?" Quick looks and a faint smile from his sister, "Yes sir, we'd like that, you can order for us."

As I've stated before, we've not many 'poor' round these parts, it's one of the richest Puke counties in the US. I ordered them meatball subs and got them both drinks from the cooler. I spent $18.42 of my $20 bill. I'm the one who will be sucking down PB&J sandwiches this week, but that's OK.

"Where are you from?" Quick glances, nods, and then " We're from Indiana, we've been trying to get South where it's warmer before it is too cold. Our Mom had some problems she can't fix, we couldn't stay."

I sat speechless while they ate, it wasn't my place to ask any more personal questions. When you're poor and you HAVE to get out of your house, it's probably best. Their hair wasn't clean. Their hands were, but it was a while since they've showered.

"I'm not trying to be a jerk, but you have nice clothes". " Oh, (laughing quietly) we just raided the clothing bins over there last night, folks throw away nice clothes around here. My boots are new, little big, but they're new."

Living on the road in the richest country in the world and you're raiding clothing donation bins to stay warm.

"How do you get rides, it's illegal to hitch around here." "We hang out where there are trucks and try and get a ride. It's not always pleasant, but we've made it here."

"How long have you been on the road?" "Three weeks, three weeks."


(disclaimer; we talked a lot more, just too much to write down. They never told me why they left, but they were genuinely good kids).

After they finished, I told them I had to go, and asked it I could do anything else to help.

"No sir, no sir, it's been a good day now"

I got up, I shook his hand, his sister gave me a tentative hug, and I gave them this small compact LCD flashlight I carry to help me see when I'm walking at night. They didn't want to take it, but I insisted.

I turned and walked out tears streaming down my wrinkled old face because there's nothing else I can do for them, I'm too poor myself. I only hope they make it ok, and I hope MY angel looks after them.


Thanks for reading.
 

I can't comment.  I am laughing too hard !   

[shadeaux]

I still can't quite compose myself !

As I've stated before, we've not many 'poor' round these parts, it's one of the richest Puke counties in the US.

I get a kick out of this statement.  All DUmmies live in affluent neighborhoods.  One day, go on the DUmp, google in their search box :

I live in an affluent neighborhood

You don't have to be a member to see the numerous DUmmies claiming to be well off.  Or acting like they are.

It's hilarious !

[dutch508]

Good teeth?

What a fuchface.

[JohnnyReb]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2454774

All DUmmies live in affluent neighborhoods. 
 
I can't comment.  I am laughing too hard !   

Yeah, section 8 housing...the democrat/Obama plan to spread the slum/drug/crime problem around a little.

[Carl]

Trying to recapture the glory of his "My food was stolen" thread from a month or so ago.

[Wineslob]

 

[BEG]

Fits in a couple of cloth bags

A must have for all good DUmmie bouncies, cloth bags.

[Freeper]

I ordered them meatball subs and got them both drinks from the cooler. I spent $18.42 of my $20 bill. I'm the one who will be sucking down PB&J sandwiches this week, but that's OK.

You should have given them a loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter then. Then you could have got a meatball sammich and they could eat pb and j for a week.

[Chris_]

If that's how they think, no wonder government is broke.

[67 Rover]

Once again this is a rehash from an older bouncy right down to the "clean" part.  I am not sure how long ago I read it but it is almost word for word.

[JohnnyReb]

Once again this is a rehash from an older bouncy right down to the "clean" part.  I am not sure how long ago I read it but it is almost word for word.

LSD flash back maybe?

[67 Rover]

LSD flash back maybe?

If I recall correctly I believe the original bouncy was outside of a 7-11 or some quick mart type store.

[vesta111]

If I recall correctly I believe the original bouncy was outside of a 7-11 or some quick mart type store.

Interesting that the writer kept saying what good kids  they were.  Both had been living as adults with their MOTHER,  she had problems so they deserted her.  Soon as Mother could no longer / or would no longer support these free loading kids they took off to survive stealing clothing from a Charity dumpster.

Brother and sister my skinny ASS.   Good teeth means Mother paid big bucks for a dentist for the kids, paid for their medical health check ups and saw their shots were up to date.  Nothing was said about them carrying back packs or sleeping bags, however a point was made to mention the 2 cloth shopping bags the writer uses.

This good Samaritan never inquired where they would spend the night, did they have a car or just walking south open to the elements. So a small flash light was given to them to light their way through the woods to WHAT grandmas house??????

I wonder what happend to that turnip truck that writer fell off of.



 

[franksolich]

Once again this is a rehash from an older bouncy right down to the "clean" part.  I am not sure how long ago I read it but it is almost word for word.

Uh huh.

[Carl]

DainBramaged  (1000+ posts)          Fri Nov-04-11 07:39 PM
 Original message
Had my groceries disappear out of my car on the way home.   
      

My two favorite no longer available Target bags, one canvas one burlap, bread, Swiss cheese, three Stonyfield 32 oz yogurts, bag of Almond Joy minis for my lunches this week, Olivio, foot long turkey and swiss sandwich from the deli for dinner tonight, corn muffins, pumpkin donuts, bananas, eggs, pancake syrup and a 12 pack of Lipton citrus tea. $44 worth of groceries in total. And the bags had the bread and eggs visible under the light where I was parked.

I work in a town where you don't really have to worry about stuff disappearing. I usually don't lock my doors where I get my lottery ticket, so I didn't tonight. There was a young guy in at the same time I was buying a candy bar, but with with change. Unkempt, and not clean looking. thin dirty jacket and skull rag on his head. He came in the back door almost simultaneously, went out the front into the area where I was parked after the cashier counted his change (OUT LOUD which was embarrassing as hell). He did not look like he was doing OK.


Got my ticket, yakked with the cashier a few, looked at the new Car and Driver, went out to the car, opened the door, and noticed the bags were gone off my passenger front seat. I thought for a couple of minutes, and let it go. Anyone who is hungry enough to steal groceries needs them way way more than I do.


I hope he enjoys the pumpkin donuts.......he needs them way way more than I do. And I hope he shares his good fortune with his friends or family. Even in one of the richest counties in America, we have a lot of people in need, but they get ignored.


Have a nice evening.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2244264

Only 43 dollars this week.

[Chris_]

Only 43 dollars this week.

That's more than I spend some weeks.

[Tucker]

The department of tall tales need to come up with a new outline for bouncies.

I don't want them to stop, just change the structure.

[longview]

21 and 23 years old?  Maybe the problem that "mom" had was two adults mooching off her!

[BattleHymn]

A must have for all good DUmmie bouncies, cloth bags.

Also known as germ bags. 

[GOBUCKS]

This DUmbass was nominated for Top DUmmy, not Golden Bong, yet he puts all this effort into a ludicrous, laughable bouncy tale.

Bouncy credits do not carry over into the DUmmy of the Year category. How many times do we have to tell them that?

He has no chance for a bouncy award as a write-in.

We don't call 'em DUmmies for nothing.

[Chris_]

Maybe he's warming up for '12.

[franksolich]

Maybe he's warming up for '12.

You know, it is about this time last year--almost to the exact date--that the yenta began gearing up for '11.

[Chris_]

You know, it is about this time last year--almost to the exact date--that the yenta began gearing up for '11.

I wonder what happened in 2010 that caused her to snap.  She'd been around the DUmp forever but never garnered much attention until now.

[franksolich]

I wonder what happened in 2010 that caused her to snap.  She'd been around the DUmp forever but never garnered much attention until now.

I dunno.

It does seem that every December, when the top primitives contest is going on, more and more primitives heretofore unaware of our existence, become aware.

She probably just discovered us, and decided to make a big try for '10, and she did, but it wasn't nearly enough; just not enough time.

[Chris_]

It's all about momentum.