The Stig
03-22-2011, 01:30 AM
So I'm sitting at a 5 Guys Burgers and Fries restaurant with my family. This older scruffy guy with a dufflebag and Veteran hat started making funny faces at my daughter. My initial reaction was that I'd have to deal with this weirdo pestering my family.
He then proceeds to pantomime that he has 3 kids, they grow up fast and my daughter has me wrapped around her finger. Doesn't say a word.
As I eat dinner I notice that he's doing this with all the kids and fathers in the restaurant.
About 3/4 through dinner he slowly rises and with the help of a cane shuffles out the door. We exchange glances as he gives me the thumbs up. I don't normally do this but I was suddenly stricken with the urge to give the man money. I almost never do that but the combination of the Veteran hat and his routine hit me. Next thing you know I'm wrestling with should I/shouldn't I. What if he's a drunk and I'm feeding his habit. He could be a pervert. Anybody can wear a Vet hat to pimp for change. Blah blah blah.
While I'm having this internal debate I notice a young man, clearly in his early 20's, with a baby and wife/baby momma go out and hand the man some bills. From his demeanor the young man appeared to be military.
So now I'm feeling like a total shithead.
Maybe this kid is a drug dealer or gang member. Maybe he's a total doofus. But my gut take was that he was trying to be a good father/husband/baby daddy just based on his his demeanor, body language, etc.
Further, I'm willing to bet I'm in a far better position to be handing out money than this kid (especially considering we just dropped an obscene amount on a new TV).
Yet he did "the right thing" and I sat and argued with myself.
I was tempted to give the kid $20 and just say I saw what he did and was convicted by it. Wasn't sure how he'd take it and they ended up leaving before we did.
Anyway, it was a case where someone probably close to 1/2 my age listened to his conscious and acted and I sat like a turd nugget and equivocated. It may well be the old guy was a complete derelict out pimping for a handout. But my gut was to help him and let God sort out the details.....I didn't listen to my inner self and am regretting it.
He then proceeds to pantomime that he has 3 kids, they grow up fast and my daughter has me wrapped around her finger. Doesn't say a word.
As I eat dinner I notice that he's doing this with all the kids and fathers in the restaurant.
About 3/4 through dinner he slowly rises and with the help of a cane shuffles out the door. We exchange glances as he gives me the thumbs up. I don't normally do this but I was suddenly stricken with the urge to give the man money. I almost never do that but the combination of the Veteran hat and his routine hit me. Next thing you know I'm wrestling with should I/shouldn't I. What if he's a drunk and I'm feeding his habit. He could be a pervert. Anybody can wear a Vet hat to pimp for change. Blah blah blah.
While I'm having this internal debate I notice a young man, clearly in his early 20's, with a baby and wife/baby momma go out and hand the man some bills. From his demeanor the young man appeared to be military.
So now I'm feeling like a total shithead.
Maybe this kid is a drug dealer or gang member. Maybe he's a total doofus. But my gut take was that he was trying to be a good father/husband/baby daddy just based on his his demeanor, body language, etc.
Further, I'm willing to bet I'm in a far better position to be handing out money than this kid (especially considering we just dropped an obscene amount on a new TV).
Yet he did "the right thing" and I sat and argued with myself.
I was tempted to give the kid $20 and just say I saw what he did and was convicted by it. Wasn't sure how he'd take it and they ended up leaving before we did.
Anyway, it was a case where someone probably close to 1/2 my age listened to his conscious and acted and I sat like a turd nugget and equivocated. It may well be the old guy was a complete derelict out pimping for a handout. But my gut was to help him and let God sort out the details.....I didn't listen to my inner self and am regretting it.