It is 95°F at noon.
At a traffic light that just turned red, immersed in the heat and exhaust fumes, a man and a dog sit on the hard concrete median, amidst the usual panhandler debris.
From the air-conditioned comfort of his car, the retired old man resists forming an opinion. He normally avoids donating to panhandlers, judging them to waste donations on booze and drugs. He is not stingy, but favors antiseptic donations to programs run by responsible charities.
This noon, it is different.
The panhandler reaches for a plastic water bottle. From his rucksack he pulls out a bandana and wets it. The old man surmises that the wet bandana will go on the panhandler’s neck to cool it from the heat.
But it is not to be.
The bandana is tenderly extended over the rump of the dog, to cool him down in the blazing sun.
Need anticipated…need met.
Epilogue.
The old man waves the panhandler over and donates to a man half his age. The old man looks into the man’s blood-shot eyes, and says “Thank you for your kindness to animals.” The younger man replies “We have been without a house for three days. It is too hot for my dog.”
The light changes to green— the strangers part.
Joy in giving…joy in receiving…joy in sharing…joy without questioning.
Oh my heart. I see this story often. In my experience, none of the people I've ever given money to on the street have run to buy booze. That's one of he ugliest Reagan era lies there is. Thank you Manuel for spreading compassion.
Another great reminder of what being human means