Penny in a pocket
Me an my wife were waiting for our friends at the corner of main square. It's rainy evening. Downtown is filled as ever. All passages are filled with people waiting for it to stop raining. The glow from antique street lights reflects from puddles make whole area lit despite time of the day.
We are looking around to find friends and head together to a bar. Out of the blue, one person is heading in our direction. A man. Olive green hood on his head, slightly torn quilted jacket with both hands in pockets. He's either having some injury to his right leg or had a few drinks today. Definitely not someone we know.
"Spare some change?" he asks.
"Sorry, I don't have anything one me" I reply. In fact, I'm lying, this is just automatic response dismiss beggars.
"Everyone has some coins, I only need some for a beard" he is adamant about getting some cash from us.
"Nope. Nothing."
I have this habit of hardening when pressed. My partner is nudging me to give me sign that I should probably let it go. She is right. Trouble is, I'm hopelessly blind to any discrete signs. An airport employee with cone lights pointing at the meaning might not cut it when it comes to me understanding allusions.
"When I was at military training 20 years ago, the always made us have everything. You see this country trained me to kill, man! I was trained to be in special forces. They trained me to break an arm with 2 moves, man! And now? Look where this country lead me! I have nothing! They broke me and left me!".
I cannot reply to him at all. A mix of confusion, fear and realization where is situation can go paralyzed me for a couple of seconds.
"Yeah, You had some awful experiences with this country. No one should be treated like that." I try to sympathize with him. Maybe to deescalate tensions, but all in all, this sounds like a tragic story.
"They trained me to kill, man!" he repeated, but in threatening way, but more to offload.
"That's rough man. I cannot help you, but I hope You'll find some soon. We have to go. Take care."
I'm trying to cut this conversation short. At this point I'm not sure if giving in and handing him some cash would help this situation. All I have now in my mind is to get the hell out of here. Preferably safely.
"Thanks man! Before You go. Here, have this." he gives me a penny. "Everybody needs at least a penny on them."
"T-thanks. G-good luck." I stammer and walk away.
Safely. And with extra penny in my pocket.