Wednesday, November 4, 2009

You Lie, I Lie. Deal?



I got out of class about 7:20 on Wednesday the 4th of November, 2009. On my way to the downtown bus station I met a man walking the opposite way. He said he was trying to catch a bus to Broken Arrow and asked if I could give him "some dollars." As it so happens, I was headed to the Broken Arrow area myself, and knew:
1) The best bus you could get after 7:00 from downtown only goes as far as the Woodland Hills Mall (several miles north-east of BA).
2) Bus fare is only $1.50, not several dollars.
3) He was headed away from the bus station.

Nevertheless, I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, and told him I was going to the bus station myself, and offered to pay for his fare at the bus. However, he refused to go with me, but just asked for the change. I finally agreed to give him $1.50 for bus fare (once I've offered someone money I'm hesitant to take it back - I'm not a big fan of finding out who is carrying what kinds of weapons and attitudes).

Then when I pulled out my coin purse and started counting out the quarters, he asked if he could have $3 because he wanted to by groceries as well. I told him I only had $3 with me and needed to pay for my own bus fare.

This was not actually true - I had about $3 in change, and a $5 bill in my wallet, but I was not planning to break the five which was supposed to be extra in case of an emergency (or someone with an honest need).

He asked if he could have $2 then, and I pointed out that once I gave him $1.50 out of my $3 I needed all the rest for my own bus fare. He persisted, and I simply said I couldn't give him something I didn't have. He gave up, and we each went our seperate ways -me to the bus station and him to his booze or crack or meth or whatever I had just given him $1.50 for.

As it turned out, I didn't have quite as much change as I thought, and ended up having to break my five anyway.

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