Can you spare some time?

One of the realities of living in a major metropolitan burg is that you will be asked for some scratch by a vagrant, hobo, Nick Nolte, panhandler, bum.

Do not give this man money!

It's as inevitable as a chick President. I was caught off-guard by one today. It was a middle aged woman with make-up and a full set of teeth. She just came out of a liquor store with what appeared to be a purchase of some spirits. She approached me and started talking. I was wearing head phones and didn't hear her initial question. I thought maybe she needed directions or wanted to compliment me on the color coordination of my work uniform. When I removed my earphones and said "excuse me?" she started to go into a lengthy narrative of babies and diapers and Gerbers and no money and give me some. I briefly looked her over. I specifically looked at her bag o' alcohol. Could she be lying? Most panhandlers lie about something. Mostly it's when you turn down their offer to relieve you of your money and they reply "Have a nice day!" They don't want you to have a nice day. They want you to get bone cancer.

But she could be telling the truth this time. She probably really did need money for diapers. I mean, once you buy vodka, there isn't much left over. We are in a recession. So, I reached into my pocket and told her a lie."I only have a credit card." She pouted off and I continued on my way leaving the lie lingering in the wind like a burrito fart.