Simmy was still a few yards away from the store when a man came bursting out of the door, rushed towards her and asked if she had some change (money), for the bus.
With the new budget for this year being adhered to with verve and determination... Simmy did not have any change but she did have some money because she'd just gone to the bank. Not feeling safe, being somewhat accosted in the parking lot, she didn't answer right away so the man asked if she would buy him a sandwich.
To that Simmy replied immediately, "Yes, I'll buy you a sandwich."
As she went into the store, the man told her he had been kicked out of the mission for a couple of months for having cigarettes on him.
Things sounded a bit 'fishy' so Simmy asked, "Did you lie about it?"
"No! I did not lie," he said, rather vehemently.
Simmy just proceeded to the cooler with all the sandwiches and the man stopped and said, "I don't think they have sandwiches here."
Now Simmy was a little suspicious because they were standing right in front of the sandwiches but she just calmly said, "Oh yes, they do. They're right here. Pick what you like."
"Can I have this one?" He was pointing to a large loaf of bread that would feed about four, or more, people.
"I don't think you can eat all that," Simmy was thinking practically and figuring he would throw out most of it if he wasn't spending his own money to buy it.
Simmy suggested a footlong sandwich instead which she thought he might be able to finish if he was hungry.
As they stood in line, she asked, "What's your name?"
He was standing rather 'too close' to her so she wasn't sure if she smelled alcohol or mouthwash???
He said, "Watson!"
Simmy was thinking, 'Yah? Well, I'm Sherlock!"
Instead she said, "Where did you get the drink?"
He seemed outraged and said, "I don't drink or smoke."
Simmy scrunched her eyebrows remembering... He just said he got kicked out the Mission for smoking.
Hmmm... but he doesn't lie either... Hmmm!
"I don't have a place to sleep," he angled.
Simmy thought... a guy who doesn't smoke, drink or lie but has just been caught in all three acts... isn't likely to make a good house guest.
Instead she said, "I like to have a drink when I think the pastor isn't watching me."
To this he replied, "I wish I could have fallen in love with you."
Simmy replied, "I have a husband who keeps a close eye on me."
She felt the need to let this hombre know he was going to have to face somebody a lot less agreeable if he got 'fresh' with her.
She paid for the sandwich, gave him the few dollars of change so he could catch a bus and then went to get her groceries.
As she walked home, she thought about the whole incident and felt she could have done the whole thing a lot better... she beat herself up about it for an hour... said a few swear words and then felt much better when Sam said, "You need to learn to say 'no.'"
At least she could feel good that she had done something.
It just ain't black and white!
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