#raw puppet

So I was sitting on the train coming back home from the Toys R Us on 42nd street when a homeless man came on board and preached to us, telling us about how he was a firefighter and had fallen under during the 9/11 attack, and how he just lost his house and daughter in a fire.  He asked if we could all give in food, not money… food! 

As he walked up and down the aisle of the train, some stuck up broad whispered to me “…he made that whole story up, he is just craving from the munchies. He’s definitely a drug using bum…” leaning back over, letting out a huge scoff as the homeless man passed by us.  I couldn’t help not believe this stuck up broad and how ridiculous he sounded, how disrespectful… 

As the homeless man passed me, I stopped him, reaching in to my wallet and giving him my last $5, and giving him my bag of candy from the M&M factory.  ”I know it’s not much, but it’s all I have- I’m sorry…” He gave me the most sincere smile, and patted me on the head and walked away.  

Drug dealer or not, that look made me  feel a million times better about myself.  I regret not telling that broad off before he had gotten off the train at 231st street…

Had that broad stayed, I wouldve told him off, saying something like, “Actually not all homeless people are drug addicts or drunks. Only some are, and this has made it into the books of modern stereotypes. Movies show bums being lazy, no gooders, who are always pedalling the public for moneywhich they will spend on booze or alcohol or even drugs. This is an image which has made it into the mindset of the community. When a community members sees a homeless person asking the public for money, then they are seeing someone who has hit a low because of a drug and alcohol problem which will only be given rise if they are given money.

Whatever the outcome, there is no doubt, that not all homeless people are in fact drunks or drug addicts some are just ordinary people, young or old, who have just ran out of luck and are on their last penny to survival.”