travelling booze

In Richmond, in addition to the bums, ho-bos and homeless, we have "travellers". These people are typically white-would-be-middle-class-kids, that probably dropped out of school, did a lot of drugs and decided to bum around the country. They have backpacks and smell bad and are generally dirtier than homeless people.

Today I was on my bike (of course) and I was stopped at a corner next to a group of about five travellers. I didn't pay them much attention, but did hear that they were talking about food and beer. I made the mistake of glancing in their direction, and one had the nerve to ask me outright - "Could you spare some change so we can buy beer?"

You read right. He asked. For money. So that he could buy beer. I mean, really? It took me a second to realize what had just happened. I mean I'm used to ignoring homeless people with bottles in paper bags and twitches, but this was something that I would never expect. I mean, you can typically assume that they would spend your money on booze or drugs, but they would ask for money to "buy food."

At the same time, though, I admire the honesty. I mean, I don't know why anyone would give anyone who was homeless money for booze, but he didn't beat around the bush, and he didn't get my money. I'm not encouraging lying, but maybe creativity?