After I'd spent some 5 hours clearing this jungle from my backyard so I can build a new fence, I took a shower and headed for Jack in the Box, 2 1/2 miles away, around Orangefair Mall if you know the place. Shortly before dark I was coming out and saw one guy ride a bike up to another guy, right by my car. They start talking, and a third guy rides up. And they sure seemed like the homeless beggars, or at least beggars supposed to be homeless, that are quite common around here. And aggressive, and doing their damndest to be fearsome. I was standing at the door a minute to give them the chance to move along, but they stayed right there, laughing and having a good time. Of all the cars in that lot. . . .
So they were on the opposite side of, and I figured I could walk up to the drivers door. And as I'm walking one of them says "We should just go get some brewskis." Another asks if he has the money, and he pulls whatever out of his pocket and says "I could get a 12 pack. Except---------here." And turns around and starts toward me. Shifting gears as he does, figuratively speaking.
(Sadly) "Excuse me sir. Would you happen to have any change so I could get something to eat?" And I pointed out to him he had just said he wanted to get BEER. And he shifts gears again, to just this side of enraged. "I DID NOT!!!!" Shouting, and screwing up his face. I'm supposed to be menaced. (Try it, buddy, just try it.)
So I look over at the other two with what I guess you'd say was a pretty smug look. And they started giggling, and the guy on foot says "Give it up, guy, he heard us." And the dirtbag is still eyeing me and muttering as he starts away, looking over his shoulder all HARD, until I stomp my foot in his direction. He looked forward then. Now the other two start making the snorking sound, really not wanting to laugh out loud but it ain't easy. The other cyclist rode after the first, big smile. The guy on foot looks at me, smiling, waves as he walks off.
Hours later, in fact just before I write this, I'm downtown here, closer to home than to that Jack in the Box but I think close to where that pack lives. And I saw the guy that had been on foot, talking to another whose on the ground trying to look all helpless as he begs, saying something about his JOB, and he sees me walk by, and as I'm walking off he starts telling the other "That guy? I think that's the guy from Jack in the Box I was tellin' ya. . . . ."
Among our beggars I know that one lives in these new SECURITY apartments near here, I've seen him in the lobby and the rec room at night as I walk past. Much cleaner than when he's out begging. Dang, around here, it's not just an industry, it's an ENTITLEMENT, they think it's a government check noone can stop them from getting.
-DOUG-
So they were on the opposite side of, and I figured I could walk up to the drivers door. And as I'm walking one of them says "We should just go get some brewskis." Another asks if he has the money, and he pulls whatever out of his pocket and says "I could get a 12 pack. Except---------here." And turns around and starts toward me. Shifting gears as he does, figuratively speaking.
(Sadly) "Excuse me sir. Would you happen to have any change so I could get something to eat?" And I pointed out to him he had just said he wanted to get BEER. And he shifts gears again, to just this side of enraged. "I DID NOT!!!!" Shouting, and screwing up his face. I'm supposed to be menaced. (Try it, buddy, just try it.)
So I look over at the other two with what I guess you'd say was a pretty smug look. And they started giggling, and the guy on foot says "Give it up, guy, he heard us." And the dirtbag is still eyeing me and muttering as he starts away, looking over his shoulder all HARD, until I stomp my foot in his direction. He looked forward then. Now the other two start making the snorking sound, really not wanting to laugh out loud but it ain't easy. The other cyclist rode after the first, big smile. The guy on foot looks at me, smiling, waves as he walks off.
Hours later, in fact just before I write this, I'm downtown here, closer to home than to that Jack in the Box but I think close to where that pack lives. And I saw the guy that had been on foot, talking to another whose on the ground trying to look all helpless as he begs, saying something about his JOB, and he sees me walk by, and as I'm walking off he starts telling the other "That guy? I think that's the guy from Jack in the Box I was tellin' ya. . . . ."
Among our beggars I know that one lives in these new SECURITY apartments near here, I've seen him in the lobby and the rec room at night as I walk past. Much cleaner than when he's out begging. Dang, around here, it's not just an industry, it's an ENTITLEMENT, they think it's a government check noone can stop them from getting.
-DOUG-
