Funny thing, a couple of weeks ago at Sonic...

I often stop to help folks who have mechanical problems with their bikes. So I do encounter folks who are riding for transportation because of DUIs, low paying jobs, etc. That rarely involves giving them any money. Most of 'em don't need money. They have at least miniwage jobs. They just can't afford a car, or have been de-horsed for naughty behavior.

I will occasionally buy food for homeless folks I encounter in the parks. None of them has ever asked me for anything, even when we've chatted for awhile. So far every homeless person I've met who sleeps in the park or downtown does so because they're low key folks and dislike the loud, aggressive types who dominate the homeless shelters. In Foat Wuth, the homeless shelters and services like the new physical/mental health clinic are all in one location, just east of downtown. It's an unofficial homeless district, clearing the path for gentrification of the near-downtown district. The homeless district does have a distinctively noisy and aggressive vibe. I can see why some folks avoid it, other than for meals and health care. I'd probably feel the same way in their position.

The aggressive panhandlers and types who ask for a cigarette, then demand the whole pack, and want more-more-more, hang out in front of convenience stores, liquor stores and fast food joints in the poorest run-down neighborhoods, including my own. I rarely give them anything. They're capable of taking care of themselves. I'll tell 'em if I could afford to give away money I wouldn't live in this neighborhood. Usually shuts 'em up. I'll make an occasional exception for the guys who ask me to buy them a beer. I'll give a little credit for honesty over B.S. stories about stranded cars or starving babies or needing money for the non-existent homeless shelters in our neighborhood, or buses that stopped running an hour ago.

...so, a couple of weeks ago at the Sonic...

I stopped on twofer Tuesday night to buy a couple of burgers and onion rings, because the new guy on late night duty really makes great onion rings -- crisp outside, sweet, just right. And he's hilariously energetic, usually dancing out to the table with the food. Reminds me of Ted Danson in the movie Body Heat.

I always ride my bike with panniers because it's only a mile from my apartment. So, one night, a lady in a nice car stops and offers me her spare change. I was a bit puzzled for a moment until I realized she thought I was another of the many neighborhood street people on bicycles. I smiled and thanked her kindly but said no, keep it for the next person who really needs it.

A few minutes later an older man walks up and sits down at the Sonic patio table nearby. He buzzes the menu and asks for ice water. He's dressed well, by 1970s disco standards. I wonder whether you can still buy those cheaply at the thrift stores or whether I could have made a small fortune off my double knit leisure suits.

The Sonic waitress brings out my meal and the large cup of ice water for the other fellow. Less than two minutes had passed since he asked for ice water. But he grumbled "Took gotdam long enough to bring me a gotdam cup of ice water."

I tipped the waitress a little extra and said something that I hoped would be encouraging or reassuring about the service industry and humanity in general. She seemed very sweet and naive and probably tougher than she seemed to me, especially if she grew up in this neighborhood.

As I got on my bike I glanced up at grumpy disco old guy with his ice water. He walked across the parking lot and got into a really nice looking expensive late model car.

Maybe he lived in that car. Maybe he'd burned through every family member and friend and burned the bridges behind him for good measure and that car was all he had left. Or maybe he was just a jerk. Who knows.

But apparently I seemed harmless enough for a nice old lady to offer me her spare change at Sonic.