Could You Spare a Few Dollars?

A bum stopped me on the street recently. He was a sorry sight for eyes.

“Let me just put this out in the open,” he said to me without any indication that I wanted to talk to him, “I’m an alcoholic. I know I have a problem, and I’m wondering if you can spare a few dollars so I can buy a beer.”

“No! I’m not going to aid your addiction!”

“Okay, okay! I’m sorry. Of course. I actually meant I was collecting donations for starving children in Africa. Could you spare a few dollars?”

“Well, if it’s for African children. . .”