As I was leaving work the other day, a woman approached my car at 14th and Meridian.

I cracked my window slightly to see what she wanted. Here’s the transcription of the conversation.

“Can you help the homeless?”

“I’m sorry, I only have plastic–” (which was the truth, I don’t carry cash often; but I was interrupted before I could finish)

“Do you have a cigarette?”

Wait, WHAT?!

At first I felt bad for assuming she wanted money, then was shocked because no intention of asking for money. The conversation was always going to go, “Can you help the homeless? Do you have a cigarette?”