Ever since the courts ruled a few years ago that anti-panhandling laws violated free speech, beggars have come back with a vengeance. Some of them quietly stand at off-ramp intersections, and some aggressively approach drivers and demand money. Consider it just another part of living or working in a metro area.
The other day we headed to a bagel shop and drove past a beggar at the traffic light asking for money. Twas a typical occurrence. What followed was an odd exchange that left us flummoxed.
As we got out of the car in the bagel shop parking lot, the man, about half a football field away, shouted at us, "Hey! Get me some ice!"
We can safely say no stranger has ever yelled at us to get him some ice before, so we turned around in a confused state. He then pointed straight at us and again repeated his demand. No "please," mind you.
Normally we don't give money to beggars because it's always better to donate to a shelter or a food bank. And we've been burned trying to give out food before. (It's frustrating to buy a meal for someone begging for food, and they turn it down because they want money.)
Nevertheless, it was a hot day and this guy was standing in the sun. So we went inside and bought him a bottle of cool water. Harmless enough, right?
We expected maybe a quick thanks and to be off on our way, but the man had a look of confusion. He asked, "What's this?" Surely, we thought, we didn't need to explain water.
The panhandler then informed us that he had a soda back at the traffic light post, and he wanted ice for his drink. Apparently we'd failed to comprehend his simple instructions from across the way. We shrugged, he shrugged, and then he said, "Thanks anyway, I guess," and was on his way.
We should have bought the ice. Or maybe we should have gone into the bagel shop and bought food as planned. But you can't please everybody. Or at least we can't.
This was certainly one of the stranger exchanges we've had with a panhandler. Except maybe the time somebody approached us in downtown Little Rock and asked us to buy a piece of meat. Some sort of flank steak. In the original plastic grocery package. And we're not kidding.
In this world, you never know. There should be a law. And there was until the courts got involved.
Editorial on 09/20/2019