Giving “The Benefit Of Doubt”

As I slowly drove through the small mall parking lot between errands, a youngish man came running up to me, begging me politely to stop and help him.

His teeth looked worn, he waa a bit bedraggled and he slurred so may have been inebriated. However, he spoke well enough to ask me clearly if I could help him get enough money to take the bus back home after his ride couldn’t return him.

I asked him how much money he had, which was a bit of change, and to count it for me while I sorted through my own leaned-out car ashtray to help him reach one dollar. Then I counted out fifty cents and handed this to him, asking him to check-count it as well.

When he confirmed the amounts (which could have irritated anyone immediately to irration), I noticed he was just being hopeful and grateful to receive. Then I handed him the remaining thriteen dollars in my wallet, which in all totalled the amount of the ticket he needed.

He was surprised, thanked me, then headed out of the lot immediately, looking back toward me after I parked in front of the gym because as we both left by different routes, we had crossed paths again.

If his story had been true, I had given him all that he needed so that he no longer had to ask anyone for anything. In such a situation, I had helped restore his independent dignity.

(This happened right after I had given my card to the other man. Maybe this lad had seen me speaking jovially and supportively.)