So I was eating at this sandwhich roll place (pretty good actually), when I noticed a scrawny kid peering through the window. As I stepped out, he gave the usual beggar hand pose. Knowing that many just want money (it’s quite a racket here, with people renting babies that cry so that people will feel more inclined to give them money or buy a trinket from them, and it’s run by various criminal organizations), I kindly said no, and offered to buy him food.
Uncharacteristically for beggars, and much of a change from the usual, and quite a shock to me, he actually said yes. So we walked to a near by store, and I did what every American does when he sees a scrawny kid asking for food. I offered to buy a nice expensive Snickers bar. He actually said no, and pointed to orange juice, which was a lot cheaper. I paid for the orange juice, one of those little paper cartons that juices used to come in, and I have to say, I’ve never seen anyone suck juice out of a box so quickly. He actually crunched up the box to get all of it out. He made a double bicep guesture in a show of bravado, and put the box in his pants, smiled, and waved good bye. I walked away shaking my head.
