I'm checking out of Memphis tomorrow. Tonight I packed my bags and loaded 'em in the car. About midnight, I drove up the street to for a refreshing diet pepsi at the corner store. As I walked back out to my car, I heard a young woman talking (to me?). She rounded the corner of my car saying she'd run out of gas down the street.
Her hair looked like it hadn't been washed in a few days, but otherwise, she looked alright. I asked if she had anything to put the gas in - she didn't.
So, looking back in through the store window, I saw they sold lil' gallon gas jugs. She said it would be too expensive. Checking the prices, she said, "yep, $3.79". Looking next to it, she saw a gallon of window washing fluid, noting it was only $1.79.
She asked if I needed window washing fluid - then she could have the empty jug for gas. I'm in a rental, so I told her we'd just get the gas can. I paid for it, and for a gallon of gas. I was a little leary about giving her a ride, so I asked if she'd be alright now. "Yep"
I headed down the street to the hotel. On making it back to my 3rd floor room, I drew back the drapes. Out in front of the hotel, slowly making his was down the sidewalk (12:30 a.m. by now, and in the upper 30's), was a slender, bearded black guy with everything he owned on his back, and hanging off his walker. His right foot was missing. He'd make about 5 yards, then pause to rest.
I went downstairs and asked the clerk in the lobby whether there was a shelter in the area or something. These aren't the first 2 homeless looking folk I've seen up and down the street, though my hotel is brand new and the neighborhood doesn't look bad. The Indian clerk said they're probably staying in the Memphis Inn down the street. The street the hotel is on is a dead end right beside I-40, a major East/West hiway.
Anyway, I fired up my trusty rental and pulled out in the street next to the guy, asking if I could give him a lift. I'm working this month, and just got a good check. I brought enough cash to front him a night in a hotel if it turned out he needed it. In a young voice which suprised me with it's clarity, he said, "No thanks, I'm just walking around the block." I was suprised enough by his answer to accept it (yeah, right), wishing him good luck.
God bless these young people in their hardship and remind us to count our blessings.
Her hair looked like it hadn't been washed in a few days, but otherwise, she looked alright. I asked if she had anything to put the gas in - she didn't.
So, looking back in through the store window, I saw they sold lil' gallon gas jugs. She said it would be too expensive. Checking the prices, she said, "yep, $3.79". Looking next to it, she saw a gallon of window washing fluid, noting it was only $1.79.
She asked if I needed window washing fluid - then she could have the empty jug for gas. I'm in a rental, so I told her we'd just get the gas can. I paid for it, and for a gallon of gas. I was a little leary about giving her a ride, so I asked if she'd be alright now. "Yep"
I headed down the street to the hotel. On making it back to my 3rd floor room, I drew back the drapes. Out in front of the hotel, slowly making his was down the sidewalk (12:30 a.m. by now, and in the upper 30's), was a slender, bearded black guy with everything he owned on his back, and hanging off his walker. His right foot was missing. He'd make about 5 yards, then pause to rest.
I went downstairs and asked the clerk in the lobby whether there was a shelter in the area or something. These aren't the first 2 homeless looking folk I've seen up and down the street, though my hotel is brand new and the neighborhood doesn't look bad. The Indian clerk said they're probably staying in the Memphis Inn down the street. The street the hotel is on is a dead end right beside I-40, a major East/West hiway.
Anyway, I fired up my trusty rental and pulled out in the street next to the guy, asking if I could give him a lift. I'm working this month, and just got a good check. I brought enough cash to front him a night in a hotel if it turned out he needed it. In a young voice which suprised me with it's clarity, he said, "No thanks, I'm just walking around the block." I was suprised enough by his answer to accept it (yeah, right), wishing him good luck.
God bless these young people in their hardship and remind us to count our blessings.
