Later I was hungry so I dashed out the door to go to Subway. The guy was still there. At the subway, ham and turkey were $2.99 for a 6-inch so I decided to buy one for myself and for the guy. I assumed that he would like tomato and mayo, unlike me.

I worried that this might lead to him hanging around the clinic more, hoping for further handouts, possibly bothering other people entering the building. I dismissed that concern, deciding that it wasn't likely, or wasn't likely to be a real problem. I also wondered whether he would just be happier with the $2.99 plus tax, as he can probably get food from soup kitchens, but there are probably lots of little things he needs money for, like toothpaste. But I dismissed that again, mostly on irrational grounds as above.

When I got back from Subway he was gone. I looked around, but all of the homeless people who usually panhandle the fast-moving crowds at 7th and H were gone. Perhaps they were heading off to a soup kitchen for dinner.

I gave the sandwhich to Bernice because she was the first person I saw when I got off the elevator.
posted by weiss @ 5:07 PM