{"id":7079,"date":"2026-01-12T18:01:48","date_gmt":"2026-01-12T18:01:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readinstory.com\/?p=7079"},"modified":"2026-01-12T18:01:48","modified_gmt":"2026-01-12T18:01:48","slug":"i-asked-a-homeless-man-three-questions-before-giving-him-money-6","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readinstory.com\/?p=7079","title":{"rendered":"I Asked a Homeless Man Three Questions Before Giving Him Money"},"content":{"rendered":"
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I was walking downtown late one afternoon, the kind of gray, tired day where everyone seemed to be in a hurry but nowhere in particular. Near the corner by a small grocery store, I noticed a homeless man sitting on the curb. His coat was thin, his shoes looked like they\u2019d survived too many winters, and his beard was more gray than brown now.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n

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I stopped for a moment, reached into my pocket, and pulled out my wallet. I thumbed through it slowly, as if I were negotiating with myself. Finally, I slid out a ten-dollar bill and held it in my hand.<\/p>\n

Before giving it to him, I hesitated.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I give you this money,\u201d I asked, trying to sound casual, \u201care you going to spend it on beer instead of food?\u201d<\/p>\n

He looked up at me, not offended\u2014just tired.<\/p>\n

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\u201cNo,\u201d he said calmly. \u201cI had to stop drinking years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n

That caught me off guard. I shifted my weight and glanced down at the bill again.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell then,\u201d I said, not quite ready to give up, \u201cwill you use it to go fishing instead of buying dinner?\u201d<\/p>\n

He let out a short laugh, more of a breath than a sound, and shook his head.<\/p>\n

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\u201cNo,\u201d he replied. \u201cI don\u2019t waste time fishing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then he paused, looked back at the street, and added,<\/p>\n

\u201cI spend all my time just trying to stay alive.\u201d<\/p>\n

That one stuck with me. I cleared my throat and tried to lighten the moment.<\/p>\n

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\u201cAlright,\u201d I said, thinking hard. \u201cWhat about hunting? Will you spend this money on hunting equipment?\u201d<\/p>\n

He stared at me like I\u2019d asked if he planned to buy a yacht.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you nuts?\u201d he exclaimed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t gone hunting in twenty years!\u201d<\/p>\n

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I nodded slowly, as if all the pieces had finally fallen into place. I folded the ten-dollar bill back into my wallet and snapped it shut.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d I said, \u201cin that case, I\u2019m not going to give you the money.\u201d<\/p>\n

His eyebrows rose slightly\u2014confusion mixed with disappointment.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut,\u201d I continued, \u201cI\u00a0am<\/em>\u00a0going to take you home.\u201d<\/p>\n

He blinked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can take a hot shower,\u201d I said. \u201cUse a clean towel. Sit at a table. And then you can have a really terrific dinner\u2014one cooked by my wife.\u201d<\/p>\n

For the first time, he looked genuinely stunned.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour wife?\u201d he asked carefully.<\/p>\n

\u201cWon\u2019t she be furious with you for bringing a homeless man home like that?\u201d<\/p>\n

I smiled, already picturing the scene.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry about it,\u201d I replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s important for her to see what a man looks like after he\u2019s given up drinking, fishing, and hunting.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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