Got Change?

Today I saw some kids on the side of my street attempting to sell lemonade. Seeing them attempting to earn money the good old fashion way was touching. It's a rare thing to see a kid in Eastview try to earn his place in the world in a honest form. Being a Eastview survivor myself, i felt compelled to help them out. Plus, I figured a guy like me could spare the tooney. So I go over there, told them that i'd take a lemonade. At that point, a few very surprised... very suspicious adults or "young" adults rushed over. By young adults I mean, younger than me but biologically mature enough to pop a few kids out. They looked bewildered and particularly suspicious of my presence.

I gave the tooney to the kids, who then had it immediately taken away from them by the adults. The adults took my money, asked if i wanted change... i said no. Not wanting to look weird, i drank the lemonade under the overbearing looming of the "adults".

What was suppose to be a act of charity turned into a very weird and awkward experience. It's tough being a nice guy. I really felt those kid's parents (i assume they were their parents), wanted them to fail... or at least had some twisted lesson waiting for them when they came home with nothing. Instead, some strange Asian guy gave them a tooney, and drank their sub-par lemonade and ruined their attempt to teach their kids that life's not fair. Its too early to be learning that when your 5 or 6.

I know most people wouldn't even bother noticing these poor kids. Many treat them the same as any other peddler and homeless person; they are ignored. I always give change to the homeless and when I don't have change i've been known to give granola bars, my lunch, parts of my lunch and at one time my cup of coffee. I've been doing so ever since my father decided to give me an allowance. I can't help it. Each time I do this, i'll always get jeers or stares from people standing nearby and even from people I know.

But the way I justify it, is that the coins I just gave him has more than just monetary value. I gave him an opportunity to make a choice either to spend the money on drugs or on food... to invest in his addiction or to invest in himself. So long as one person decides to spend it on the latter, than whatever small fortune i've spent doing this was worth it.

It is an immutable truth that life is not fair. I certainly agree, but that doesn't mean I can't be.