Desperate Guy @ My Door

Interesting evening I had tonight.

Came home not too long ago and was having a heated debate with a close friend of mine, when the doorbell rang. Mind you, my doorbell hardly rings. Not at 11pm anyway.

Strange as I thought, considering that everyone except me, is sound asleep, I decided to see who the unexpected visitor was. To my surprise, it was a guy in his early 20s, whom I have never met in my entire life. Approaching the guy with caution, not knowing what he would want at this weird time of the night, I was shocked when he asked me if he could borrow $20 from me. Said he lost his wallet and has been in this area since yesterday afternoon, he asked me if I could lend him some cash for him to catch a cab back, promising to return the dough the next day.

Silly as I am, I did the impossible - I passed him $20 without a second thought. Reckon it's the heated debate I had with my friend over the phone that made me impulsive and not thinking clearly, I just passed him the cash and resumed back to my phone debate. And guess what? This guy had the audacity to ask for an extra $10 after accepting the $20! Said he hasn't had anything to eat since yesterday afternoon and is starving and concerned that $20 may not be enuff to cover cab charges plus food, considering the midnight charge.

My response - Told him $20 is the max I could give, and that I did not have any extra cash with me now. Guess what he said? He asked if I could withdraw some extra cash for him. I mean, how ridiculous is that!!! I do not even know this dude!!! Said no firmly...and sent him away.

Although a huge part of me is thinking what a fool I have been, somehow, I am hoping against all hope that perhaps this guy is for real, that he's really desperate and is needy for some cash to get home. Why do I think so? He was CRYING when he was asking me for money. A guy in his 20s crying to a gal whom he doesn't even know? He doesn't seem as a drug addict or alcoholic or anything dodgy. Seems like a proper guy who's really desperate. Hmm...then again, I wasn't really concentrating on him when I was talking to him. My attention was more on wanting to resume to my phone debate.

Now that I think about it, perhaps I could have done things a little different. I could have hanged up my phone conversation for starters and focused on helping this dude who seems really desperate. At least console him or something. Offer some real, practical help. Give him some food or call a cab for him. Something more practical rather than just shoving him some cash and send him away. I could have been a better Samaritian. I didn't even ask him for his name! Oh dear...what a nasty Samaritian I sure am tonight!

If Mr Desperate is not coming back tomorrow to return my $20, I am gonna take this as a lesson bought. If he does, I am definitely going to make a point to be a better Samaritian the next time something eventful like this happens to me.

This is definitely some night to remember....