A third grader said in my poetry class today that it’s illegal to give homeless people money.
No it’s not, said the other kids.
Yes it is, he insisted. They’re rich and they’re just pretending to be poor.
It's not illegal, I said, though maybe what you're saying is that you don't know who you can trust when they tell you something?
No, it's illegal.
Really, I didn't know that, I said as if I were genuinely curious. Who said that?
My dad told me, he said proudly.
Then I said, as if in afterthought, How many rich people do you think sit on the street in the cold and ask for money?
One, he said.
No it’s not, said the other kids.
Yes it is, he insisted. They’re rich and they’re just pretending to be poor.
It's not illegal, I said, though maybe what you're saying is that you don't know who you can trust when they tell you something?
No, it's illegal.
Really, I didn't know that, I said as if I were genuinely curious. Who said that?
My dad told me, he said proudly.
Then I said, as if in afterthought, How many rich people do you think sit on the street in the cold and ask for money?
One, he said.
RSS Feed