Can you do me a favor?

[nwhiker]

Trader Joe's parking lot. I'd just gotten into my car and was about to close the door when a woman rushed between my car and the one next to me.

"Can you do me a favor?" she asked.

I hesitated. I figured she was going to ask for money, but eh, she asked for a favor.

Plus she was Black (by accent, African, not US). I immediately saw myself all over the internet as a Karen who refused a favor blah blah blah.

So I said, "Perhaps. What do you need?"

And... she asked for money.

Fuck. I was so fucking pissed. I then said no (not that I had any cash anyhow, LOL), and she rushed away to a guy who was getting into his car on the other side of the row.

Feh. I felt stupid and used.

I used to carry $5 gift cards to hand out, but at least around here, the begging has gotten a lot more, a lot more aggressive, and the local agencies have asked people to not give money. So, eh, we give a bit more to the food back.