Hello world, hope all is well with you and your families, truly. In this day and age most of us get caught up with our own personal goals and activities, that we don't stop and enjoy what in my opinion, matters most, "family". Some day I will have a family of my own and enjoy the love and attention I give and receive. Part of me just can't wait until I'm consumed by love and share it with that most deserving woman! I tell myself, in due time, as I may not have as much control over that as I'd like.

The ordeal; Just two weeks ago my attention was drown to a young looking woman as she flagged me down while I was crossing the street, headed to an automatic teller machine. I was in my own world, thinking about what I'd have for my next meal.

She didn't capture my attention until she waved her hands and raise her voice, "Mister, Mister". Her face wore an expression of distress, so I immediately looked around her thinking that I would see what was causing the distortion of her eyes and cheeks. There appeared to be no threat, so my next thought was, is she deranged? Because her behavior displayed: a sign of desperation. As she walked closer to me, I noticed that she had nothing in her hands yet her thumbs, index and middle finger tips appeared callous. That is a direct sign of drug use, possibly from grasping a glass smoking pipe.

"Mister, Mister", I need your help! Before I answered her I notice a little girl (possibly six or seven years old), standing a few feet behind her. The little girl appeared healthy with long dark hair that she played with as she stared at me. Next to her was a single stroller in which two, even younger children sat. "What's wrong? I asked." "I need to feed my kids"! She didn't appear malnourished yet she did look as if she had not bathed in days. Her children's clothes were dirty but appeared to fit. I told her that I didn't feel comfortable giving money while standing in front of the ATM. I've heard of many people playing the "Good Samaritan role" and then suffering injury while unknown assailants attack them, taking valuables and so fourth.

The time was approaching 5 o'clock and there were many people walking past us. For a moment I wondered why she stopped me, as apposed to the well dressed Caucasian people who walked pasted us. I know I don't look na•ve, so I told her, "I will not just give you cash money standing on the street like this. I'll take you to the grocery store and buy you and your children food."

She began telling me about being evicted from her home and staying with friends here and there. While looking at her three children, their dirty clothes and her rough looking finger tips, I didn't care if she was lying to me. I thought, if I provide her with food then at least her kids will eat tonight. So, she told me that there was a grocery store a couple blocks away. I offered her a ride yet she turned me down stating that I didn't have car seats for her kids. I told her that I'd meet her at the grocery store and headed to my car (I didn't use the ATM as I still didn't trust her fully and thought to myself that she wasn't entirely trusting of me either, because she did not accept my offer to give her a lift; even though she pushed two of her three kids around in a single seat stroller).

While waiting for her to get to the grocery store, I remembered living with my biological father "Thomas" and on many occasions missing meals because of his drug addiction. I recall telling my teammates at breakfast before wrestling tournaments, that sometimes I didn't like to eat in the morning before competing because it would disrupt my stomach. Mostly, I declined eating breakfast before a match because I didn't have money to pay the entry fee into the wrestling tournament and breakfast.

When she arrived her oldest child offered me conversation while her mother picked a shopping cart. The child spoke with a mature tone, "So, who are you?" I replied with, "just someone helping your mother". Before she could respond her mother interjected asking her to push the cart. I offered to push the cart for her yet she told me that she would be quick as she just wanted to pick up a few things for her children. I told her that I would wait near the check out area. Ten minutes later she had a cart full of food. I looked in her basket and began calculating. She interrupted my thought and asked me if I minded her picking up detergent and toiletries. I didn't disagree, yet didn't verbally approve either. While standing in the check out line I noticed several people looking at us. I knew we didn't look like a couple yet their glances meant nothing to me, I was preoccupied with the total ($243 dollars).

With my eyes widen by the bill she told me that she would pay me back as soon as she got on her feet. I disregarded her statement after noticing the smile on her eldest daughters face. When outside of the grocery store, I offered her another ride she refused. I gave her a copy of my book, "Noesis", and signed it, "Continue to Love your self and your children. Security will soon come".

Question; did she take advantage of my generosity? 

Last update: 08-20-2008 22:29

Published in : Op-Ed, Op-Ed

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