THIS MORNING I HAD TO GAS UP. AS I WAITED AT THE PUMP, THERE WAS A GENT LEANING AGAINST THE BUILDING WHERE I HAVE SEEN PEOPLE IN NEED GATHERED. HE WAS CLOTHED JUST IN A SHIRT AND APPEARED TO BE SHIVERING. THE WIND WAS WHISTLING THROUGH. I HAD ON A WARM VEST AND A BIG JACKET. I THOUGHT ABOUT ST. MARTIN OF TOURS WHO SPLIT HIS CLOAK TO SHARE WITH A BEGGAR. REALIZING THAT HALF MY JACKET WOULD DO NEITHER OF US ANY GOOD I BEGAN TO STEW ABOUT HOW I MIGHT HELP. I HAVE A BIG COAT WITH A HOOD THAT I SELDOM NEED SO I RETURNED HOME AND STUFFED ITS POCKETS WITH SOME PLASTIC UTENSILS, A CAN OF KING OSCAR SARDINES, A BEER AND A $10 BILL. UPON MY RETURN I APPROACHED THE MAN WITH A BEATIFIC SMILE ON MY FACE. WELL, MAYBE IT WAS SORT OF A SHIT EATIN' GRIN.
I TOLD HIM I KNEW HE WAS COLD AND ATTEMPTED TO HAVE HIM DON THE COAT. HE SHIED AWAY AS IF I HAD OFFERED A HAIR SHIRT. HE TOLD ME NOT TO PUT THAT THING ON HIM, IT WOULD MAKE HIM SWEAT. HOW CAN I DESCRIBE MY RETREAT?
NOW AT MY WARM HOME, I DRANK THE BEER AND ATE THE SARDINES.
STEVENS
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Great story, Steve!
Good deeds? No good deed goes unpunished…
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