we run into this kid who's begging for food. barefooted, with dirt-caked face + clothes. says his parents died when he was little. + that he lives here. he hasn't had anything to eat today, he says. what do u want to eat? asks my friend, who is a native. I'd like some bread, the boy says. we go to the corner store + they don't have bread, just junk food. so we get him several twinkie-like cakes, a bag of frito-lay chips (purple onion flavor?) + a pepsi. we come back + he's already jumped the fence. we pass the food to him + he's really excited. he gives us a nop, a head bow with hands-pressed together. then he runs off to his friends who are hiding in the shadows. one of them yells (i imagine): so what'd u get from those rich tourists?
later, the monks tell us there aren't any orphan boys around here. that those boys live in the area, and that they all have parents.
i consider myself a pretty good judge of character. i don't consider myself gullible. but i'd rather be gullible than coldhearted. i'd rather feel too much pity than none at all. i'm sure i've unwittingly given crack money to crackheads before. but i don't ever want a fear of being conned to be the reason that i turn down someone who genuinely needs help.
if people actually gave more freely, of their means + of their hearts - i don't think there'd be as many thieves + muggers + con-artists + pretend beggar boys out there.
