Monday 19 May 2008

Do I Look Like A Cashpoint?

Sitting in Winchester Cathedral Gardens the other day, Alex and I were watching the energetic display of some Morris Dancers. It was all part of Mayfest, a new event that had been advertised for months giving me the impression that some decent bands were finally coming to town. Half hour later boredom set in, so I asked a guy carrying a clipboard and looking rather official where the bands were. 'Oh', he said, 'That's happening tonight in all the pubs round town'. Knowing my 14 year old wasn't allowed in any pubs it meant my planned boogie had to be abandoned.

Trying to make the best of a bad situation we indulged in some fast food for him and some coffee and cake for me. Sounds of jingling bells from the Morris dancers began to grate a bit, so we naturally took the piss just to pass the time. It was while we were doing this a guy approached us. First impressions were not good, he had the unmistakable look of an addict, bad dull skin and a face only a mother could love.
'Got any spare change?', he mumbled.
'Do I look like a fucking cashpoint?' I answered, annoyed that he'd interupted our laughathon.
'Oh', he said, looking surprised, Sorry'.
We watched as he ambled off, Alex then wondered why he was begging. Explaining took the best part of twenty minutes, seeing people beg is common nowadays especially in Winchester. Same old faces. The amount of time sat in a shop doorway with a hand out for money to indulge various habits could be spent on more positive things, but then thats just my opinion. Alex for a brief moment felt sorry for the man, it was only later when we spotted him using a rather expensive mobile phone to take photo's of the Morris Dancers that his attitude changed.
'If he's really hungry', he said, 'Then why cant he sell his phone?'
Good question, going up to strangers asking for money is not only losing your self respect its also bloody annoying. I work and every penny is earnt through honest graft. None of it is spare, certainly I would happily give some to a charity but not to homeless addicts. There are a few genuine cases but the majority are only homeless or at least pretend to be just because the word 'work' and 'job' scares the shit out of them.
Alex learnt a good lesson that day, I was glad I was with him at the time. Being young he may have fallen for the sob story this man would of no doubt spun. Such is life!