Hunting for Hoboes

My theme this week was charity, forgiveness, and compassion. all brought to you by the Number Four and the color Blue. Sprinkle a little Sesame Street on my Mr. Noodles and I’m good.

My task was to pass out cash. I broke a ten-dollar bill into ten ones. I was planning to give one dollar out to each panhandler that requested help.

Usually there is no problem finding someone with a “Please HELP! I’m Homeless,” sign. But for some reason this week I only found two in the first six days. Pretty shocked I was considering the “state of the economy.” Hey! That must be a sign that things are improving, n’est-ce pas?

So on the seventh day, I was becoming desperate. I did not achieve what I set out to do. It was like a term paper deadline looming me in the face. I did what any rationally thinking, desperate person would do. I went out hunting for cadgers. I drove around for at least an hour and finally found one.

The sky was growing dark. And I was about to get rolled up in the Orange County sidewalks, so I had to resort to giving out my bills to various charities of bell ringers and unmanned donation boxes: homeless pets, Haiti, Make a Wish Foundation, Salvation Army, and my daughter.

I tried to give money to two guys sitting at a bus stop, but they wouldn’t take it, so the last three dollars, I begged the Boys and Girls Club to take.

Fortunately, Miss Dani took my leftover cash to buy Popsicles for the kids. I can’t believe I had to beg someone to take my money. And all for ice pops. A sucker is born every day, I guess. Sweet.

blue · boys and girls club · cadger · charity · forgiveness · four · panhandler