Be my Diary for the Night

This just happened to me, and I'm blogging about it not necessarily so that you can read it, but that I can remember it. Let's call this a diary entry of sorts.

Last night, as I was walking home from a late-night study session at the library, a homeless man called out to me from the steps of a church. I had no cash, and wasn't ready to part with the bagel I'd just purchased because I had no food at home. I had just dialed my father's number and was listening to the ring when he called out at me. He called thrice. A bit louder each time. And each time I pretended to have not heard him.

I kept on walking; went to the drugstore to get cereal, and thought about the guy as I made my purchases. What he was doing, whether anyone had given him food, or if anyone had even acknowledged that he'd been sitting on the steps. Maybe he hadn't been a beggar or even be-ghar. Maybe I'd dropped something or maybe he just wanted to talk to someone. But it bothered me all the way home, and especially while I was wolfing down my bagel. I felt selfish and horrible. And promised myself that I'd try to be less selfish and more conscientious in the future.

After I got out of the gym today, I went to the supermarket to get some juice and granola bars. I'd heard a couple of my friends talking about the Luna Bar - which is supposed to be designed for women, so I bought one of those. Not sure whether it'd be good or not, I also bought a Kashi bar - a fudge sundae one mmmmm (healthy actually...). I paid and left the supermarket.

Standing outside was a man - very small, wearing an oversized blue raincoat, and with his hand stretched out. I stopped, and asked him if he wanted a granola bar. He smiled and said yes.

I reached into my bag and pulled one out. It was the Luna Bar. 'Oh! This one's for women!' I exclaimed. He laughed and said 'no worries - it's ok.'
'No! There's another one.'
And I reached into my bag again, found the Kashi bar and handed it to him. He took it, said thank-you (still laughing about the women-only bar) and smiled. And I left for the library.

I can still see that laugh. And I'm still laughing as well...