March 29, 1999
Today I stopped in at the McDee's on the way home from school. It's
an interesting location: downtown, by the railroad tracks and freeway.
Inside and out there are signs that say "Don't support panhandling."
Every time I've gone inside, there are "bums" sitting around drinking coffee
and looking very disheveled. I'm sure this is judgmental of me to
presume these are homeless bums... but gee they look an awful lot like
what I see on TV. SO THERE! So I go in to order since I have
no cash and I need to pay with a check [yes... where I live you can pay
for your hamburgers with a check and no ID] I see an obviously homeless
type guy standing around waiting for his order. I was relieved that
he was just waiting for his food. This meant he had already
scrounged cash for a happy meal and would leave me alone. I was sure
glad as if he asked me for money, I would have to decide if I was gonna
obey the "Don't support panhandling" signs or be forced to dig around for
some change in the bottom of my purse. He got his food and at the
napkin table he was getting a straw when he noticed me. He was pretty
old looking. He shuffled along for walking. He said something
to me. I pretended not to notice. He said it again... holding
out his hand. "May I ask you your name?" I've been telling
people my name since I was one or so. About age five I realize it
wasn't a 'normal' name. It's odd and has to be repeated a second
or third time until folks see that they heard it right the first time.
So I told him my name and waited for the expected request to repeat it.
It didn't come. I shook his hand. He laughed and said "That
is very lovely. I just love red hair." I thanked him.
He took his tray and turned and walked away. It made me smile.
A homeless man made me smile. He had nothing, but he gave me a compliment.
There were no signs about panhandlers supporting check writing customers.
What a rebel.