No man should begrudge another a single nickel, I thought, so I reached into my pocket for a nickel. I realized that I had no change on me at all. Yet, by stopping and reaching into my pocket, I had in some sense already prepared myself to help this guy out.
It was like the time a guy asked me for change, anything at all, even a single penny. I was wearing my Santa hat, and it was Christmas day—how could I refuse? All I had on me, coins and bills combined, after I checked every pocket, was 4 measly cents. He seemed irritated even though I had given him everything I had on me. He'd wanted to help, and I'd wanted to help out. We both ended that transaction feeling disappointed.
So I wanted to help this guy out, but I didn't even have a nickel. Do you have a dollar, he said? I'll give you 95 cents for a dollar.
I did have a dollar. He prepared to give me his 95 cents, but how can you take change from a guy staying in a homeless shelter? I told him to keep the dollar.
And that is how I gave away a dollar, something I wouldn't normally do.
