Alms

I've been told more than once that giving money to panhandlers is useless, because they just spend it on liquor. But I always feel a small pang of guilt when I turn one down.

I had a coupon for one free Dunkin Donuts smoothie, so just now during my lunch hour I headed up the street to get my smoothie. I exited the store and was approached by a man who asked me for spare change. I told him, "You can have my smoothie," and held it out to him. He said he didn't want to take me smoothie from me, but I could drink half and save half for him. I smiled and started back to work. The man asked, "So are you going to save half for me? Why are you walking away?"

I went back inside Dunkin Donuts and asked for a small cup. I poured half my strawberry smoothie into the paper cup and gave it to the man outside, who thanked me. I've been thinking about my handling of the incident all the way back to my office.

The strawberries tasted saccharin-sweet, anyway. They were probably canned in syrup.