Well, it seems in today’s society they can.

As lunchtime came around, I decided to go out for a wander to strech the legs and clear the head. My stomach was doing more than grumbling and the rest of my team kept telling me to go and get some food.

So it was very shortly after I had left the office and had been wandering the chilly city streets that I spotted him.He was sitting on the cold and wet pavement, back against the wall and begging for money. His thin body covered in an old top that could not be possibly keeping him warm. I am not sure what got to me, but I turned around and walked into the closest food store, which just so happened to be a Subway.

He was sitting on the cold and wet pavement, back against the wall and begging for money. His thin body covered in an old top that could not be possibly keeping him warm. I am not sure what got to me, but I turned around and walked into the closest food store, which just so happened to be a Subway.

Once inside, I ordered a ham and salad six inch roll, paid for it and headed back to the beggar. With the freshly made roll in hand, I knelt down beside him and offered him the food, and waited for a thank you. But the response I received instead shocked me.

‘Nah mate, I’m not that hungry, but can I have some money for a pack of smokes?’

The words ‘Fuck off’ instantly came to mind, but I held back and shook my head as he continued to stare at me and wait for me to hand him change so he could buy a pack of Winnie Blue. Not on my watch I thought.

So with absolute disbelief, I stood up and walked off, still shaking my head at what had just occurred. I was now even more determined to hand the food over to a homeless person who wanted to be fed and would be grateful for the feed.
Well, it did take me another 15 minutes and another knockback to find someone who accepted the food rather than money.

So, is it the way I think, or have we become a society of self centered and choosey people who don’t want to settle for second best, or in this case third best?

I have not lost faith in what I do for others, as far as I know, there are still some people out there who will take what I have to offer with a smile and open arms, but on the odd occasion, I do have my doubts.