After he finished begging for money while sitting next to a McDonald’s exit it started to rain. So, he walked across the street and sat under a gas pump awning at a small convenient store. I saw him out of the corner of my eye, he was almost curled up in a ball. People dressed in their Sunday best walked past him without ever glancing down, even stepping around him as if he were a piece of trash they wanted to avoid to keep their neatly polished shoes clean.
I approached him and asked, “Are you hungry, would you like a doughnut from Dunkin Donuts [in the gas station] or would you like real food?” He carefully looked up almost startled, “Real food please.” I went inside and ordered a chicken salad sandwich on a croissant. I then grabbed a large bottle of water, a bag of chips and a Little Debbie snack for desert. I placed it by his side and he thanked me while putting the bag of chips inside the brown paper bag that the sandwich came in. He then scurried across the street to find a quiet and out of the way spot to eat.
I hate to compare a man to an animal, but have you ever noticed what happens when you give a dog a piece of meat or a bone? The dog quickly carries the item to a distant location to begin its feast. The animal moves away from the pack in order to protect and hide its food. That is exactly what occurred in this situation. It was sad to watch him quickly move away as if he was afraid someone would take his meal.
Before I left I asked, “How old are you?” He told me, “54.”
“Those who are happiest are those who do the most for others.” ― Booker T. Washington, Up from Slavery