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so on my way to the library, i passed my favorite beggar.

(yeah, i know, favoritism is bad. but i've explained to people that he is very high on the morality scale. because he is a HEALTHY beggar. he buys bunches of bananas and bottles of juice and water. the only cigarettes he has are donated. if i saw him in the alley with a crackpipe, my heart would break. but he calls me honey, thanks me profusely, and is just a nice nice little guy.)

so anyway, it was about that time where kids are roaming the streets after school. three or so were walking a little behind/in front of me. i heard one say "watch this" and i knew that it was bad news for my beggar.

i thought they would kick his hat and send the quarters and nickels rolling.

i think what they *did* do was worse.

one little bastard dropped a loonie (dollar coin) and the other, or the same, went "whoops!" with a big fat grin on his face, and picked it up.

now, there is nothing i like more to do with my new-found confidence than be indignant to strangers. but being indignant to children? i think i like that more.

"that was a really sick thing to do."

(they are always shocked when they are told off. they can't BELIEVE that a stranger would tell them what to do or how to behave.)

"what? it wasn't mine...he dropped it." (and they always defer blame)

"you should be so lucky that you don't have to beg on the street for your money."

"*smirk*"

and then i lost control. the emotions welling up inside me...

"don't be such a little prick."

"!!!" "she called me a prick! then what are you?"

"you are a little prick - at least i give him money when i'm able to!"

and then they skitted away. i wanted them to talk back to me MORE so i could lecture them about what they were asking for for christmas - what, a new gameboy advance? a $60 x-box game? were they going home to gorge on pizza pops until a full plate of dinner was placed in front of their snouts? have they EVER worked for ANYTHING in their LIVES???

but alas. there was no confrontation to be had.

god, i love feeling old.

i fucking LOVE IT. i don't think i can wait until i have a cane to shake, too.