I Asked a Homeless Man Three Questions Before Giving Him Money

One gray, tired afternoon, I spotted a homeless man sitting on the curb. His coat was thin, shoes worn, and his beard more gray than brown. I pulled out a ten-dollar bill, hesitated, and decided to ask a few questions first.

“If I give you this money, are you going to spend it on beer instead of food?” I asked.

“No,” he said calmly. “I had to stop drinking years ago.”

“Will you use it to go fishing instead of buying dinner?”

“No,” he replied, shaking his head. “I don’t waste time fishing. I spend all my time just trying to stay alive.”

“Alright,” I pressed, “what about hunting? Will you spend it on hunting equipment?”

“Are you nuts?” he exclaimed. “I haven’t gone hunting in twenty years!”

I nodded slowly, folding the bill back into my wallet.

“Well,” I said, “I’m not going to give you the money. But I am going to take you home.”

He blinked in surprise.

“You can take a hot shower, use a clean towel, and sit at a table. Then you’ll have a really terrific dinner—cooked by my wife.”

For the first time, he looked genuinely stunned.

“Your wife?” he asked carefully.

“Don’t worry,” I said. “It’s important for her to see what a man looks like after he’s given up drinking, fishing, and hunting.”