Whatever happened to common necessity?
So. I saw just about one of the most heartbraking things I've seen all year so far. Today, on this lovely, windy, carefree day when I did Mum's shopping for her.
Just outside the Framing Place, by Blockbuster, there was a kid and his dog. I suppose I shouldn't say kid, because he was at least eighteen, in clothes too loose for him, and his dog was the thinnest scroungiest little mongrel I've ever seen. It was almost skin and bones. The Guy had a large sign beside him, and an expression on his face which clearly expressed that he was at the end of his rope. The sign said "Willing to Work" underlined, and underneath that, in smaller letters, "Or please help with spare change."
So I went and dropped some change in his hat, and the gaunt face smiled brightly at me, and said "Thank you. Happy Thanksgiving." The dog barked, as well.
Then I noticed, on the way back, the large "NOW HIRING!" sign on Blockbusters windows. Less than ten feet away from the guy and his dog.
How interesting. Any spoiled rich kid with a resume can get a part time job, (or anyone, for that matter. That was bitter, I apologise), and here's this scene on the sidewalk, with a dog that looks like its starving and a master to match, that puts up a bloody sign saying "willing to work" because theres no alternative anymore, and whose only income comes out of his cap. He didn't even look like he had anywhere to live. He may not have finished high school, he may not have any experience doing anything. But bloody hell, how come its so hard to get hired places nowadays? Even MacDonalds has standards. How hard is it to teach someone to flip hamburgers, so long as they're willing to?
It just pisses me off that eveyone enjoying stuffing themselves with turkey this weekend and then going off to sleep in a warm bed will be griping about the hours they have to work, and on Thanksgiving, no less, and this kid might be out there somewhere with his dog, wishing he had hours to bitch about, and maybe wondering where his next meal might come from. Seriously, there were people walking deliberatly AROUND this kid on the sidewalk, avoiding him, not making eye contact. I dunno, but why won't one person maybe think about it for a minute, maybe go "Hmm. Maybe that kid out there needs a job more than that gr. 10 kid who wanted an interview. He looks like he'd be able to pour coffe and count change. Maybe I'll see if he's interested." But no. That just.... doesn't happen anymore. A few people blindly dropped coins in. A few even smiled, acknowledged him (I was one of them). But most avoided him like the plague. I don't know why. He even looked harmless. And it was genuine "Thank you. Happy Thanksgiving." I got from him. He could probobly be doing anything, if someone bothered to give him the opourtunity.
But no. Maybe something happened. maybe hes homeless, or a dropout, or maybe none of these things. But he's still there, on the sidewalk, with his threadbare dog and a sign saying "WILLING TO WORK -or please help with spare change."
Happy Thanksgiving, all.
Just outside the Framing Place, by Blockbuster, there was a kid and his dog. I suppose I shouldn't say kid, because he was at least eighteen, in clothes too loose for him, and his dog was the thinnest scroungiest little mongrel I've ever seen. It was almost skin and bones. The Guy had a large sign beside him, and an expression on his face which clearly expressed that he was at the end of his rope. The sign said "Willing to Work" underlined, and underneath that, in smaller letters, "Or please help with spare change."
So I went and dropped some change in his hat, and the gaunt face smiled brightly at me, and said "Thank you. Happy Thanksgiving." The dog barked, as well.
Then I noticed, on the way back, the large "NOW HIRING!" sign on Blockbusters windows. Less than ten feet away from the guy and his dog.
How interesting. Any spoiled rich kid with a resume can get a part time job, (or anyone, for that matter. That was bitter, I apologise), and here's this scene on the sidewalk, with a dog that looks like its starving and a master to match, that puts up a bloody sign saying "willing to work" because theres no alternative anymore, and whose only income comes out of his cap. He didn't even look like he had anywhere to live. He may not have finished high school, he may not have any experience doing anything. But bloody hell, how come its so hard to get hired places nowadays? Even MacDonalds has standards. How hard is it to teach someone to flip hamburgers, so long as they're willing to?
It just pisses me off that eveyone enjoying stuffing themselves with turkey this weekend and then going off to sleep in a warm bed will be griping about the hours they have to work, and on Thanksgiving, no less, and this kid might be out there somewhere with his dog, wishing he had hours to bitch about, and maybe wondering where his next meal might come from. Seriously, there were people walking deliberatly AROUND this kid on the sidewalk, avoiding him, not making eye contact. I dunno, but why won't one person maybe think about it for a minute, maybe go "Hmm. Maybe that kid out there needs a job more than that gr. 10 kid who wanted an interview. He looks like he'd be able to pour coffe and count change. Maybe I'll see if he's interested." But no. That just.... doesn't happen anymore. A few people blindly dropped coins in. A few even smiled, acknowledged him (I was one of them). But most avoided him like the plague. I don't know why. He even looked harmless. And it was genuine "Thank you. Happy Thanksgiving." I got from him. He could probobly be doing anything, if someone bothered to give him the opourtunity.
But no. Maybe something happened. maybe hes homeless, or a dropout, or maybe none of these things. But he's still there, on the sidewalk, with his threadbare dog and a sign saying "WILLING TO WORK -or please help with spare change."
Happy Thanksgiving, all.