Beggers can't be "Choosy"
Friday, September 30, 2005
I took out our bands mates to El Pollo Loco last night. After I parked my car. I saw a woman (in her 40s maybe) talking to Mike. She was telling him about how they lost their home, her sister just lost her job... etc. Her sister was in the SUV they had. I guess she was asking Mike for some food. I heard him say "SURE!". I chimed in... and asked, "you want some dinner? Come on in and tell your sister to come too."
But the sister mumbled something and refused to come in... she gave the woman a piece of paper. So I preceeded to take the 40 year old into the Chicken house... she asked for the 12 piece meal... not the 12 piece chicken... the MEAL. So I asked, "Jeez, is this all for YOU?". She replied that she has a family with 3 kids. Ok, now I'm a little bit peeved.
So she orders her food... and then mumbles to me "When we come here, we usually get the 3 side orders extra... but it will come out to $25. Is that ok?" By now, my irritation is showing and I'm utterly stunned by her request. "No. You guys can do fine with just the 12 piece meal (which comes with 2 large sides anyways)." And I look her in the eye.. "I'm not rich either you know."
I've never really been one of "charity" in LA, because I DO believe that everyone here has an opportunity to at-least have some food without begging, but I do consider myself some-what of a generous person. At least I try to be. But jeez, this was kind of ridiculous.
Needless to say, I didn't want anything to do with that lady. I did not say another word to her. In fact, after all the bandmates ordered their food... I just went to sit down. After the lady got her 12 piece... she came up to me and thanked me and said "God bless you." I told her "Alright, take care of your kids now."
I should have probably told her... "If your kids are starving, sell your freakin' SUV."
But the sister mumbled something and refused to come in... she gave the woman a piece of paper. So I preceeded to take the 40 year old into the Chicken house... she asked for the 12 piece meal... not the 12 piece chicken... the MEAL. So I asked, "Jeez, is this all for YOU?". She replied that she has a family with 3 kids. Ok, now I'm a little bit peeved.
So she orders her food... and then mumbles to me "When we come here, we usually get the 3 side orders extra... but it will come out to $25. Is that ok?" By now, my irritation is showing and I'm utterly stunned by her request. "No. You guys can do fine with just the 12 piece meal (which comes with 2 large sides anyways)." And I look her in the eye.. "I'm not rich either you know."
I've never really been one of "charity" in LA, because I DO believe that everyone here has an opportunity to at-least have some food without begging, but I do consider myself some-what of a generous person. At least I try to be. But jeez, this was kind of ridiculous.
Needless to say, I didn't want anything to do with that lady. I did not say another word to her. In fact, after all the bandmates ordered their food... I just went to sit down. After the lady got her 12 piece... she came up to me and thanked me and said "God bless you." I told her "Alright, take care of your kids now."
I should have probably told her... "If your kids are starving, sell your freakin' SUV."
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