Thu 25 May 2006 - The man I couldn’t help
He was standing by the payphone outside Bentleigh Post Office, as I checked my post box about 45 minutes ago. He might still be there now. Asking passers-by for money to make a long-distance call, regarding his father, who had passed away.
Was he telling the truth? I don’t know. I told him I had no coins — which was true. He asked if he could borrow a $5 note, to pay back tomorrow when his pension arrived. Yeah right — you couldn’t use that to make a phone call, and I’d never see it again. “I’m sorry,” I said, as I walked away.
But he cut such a pathetic figure. I hadn’t seen him around before, trying it on. Perhaps it was true? How gutted would you feel if it were you, needing to make that phone call in that situation? Yet I wasn’t willing to just hand him my mobile phone.
I went home with my groceries. Karma. Guilt — despite my usual policy of never giving to beggars; giving to charities who are in a better position to know who’s genuine and who isn’t.
No coins in the house. Maybe I could offer him a payphone card, and see what he said?
I went back out. Had a look. He was still there, asking people. I went to the newsagent to buy him a payphone card. They were shut. Went to Coles. No, they said, they have prepaid mobile phone cards. They suggested a post office (shut) or a 7-11 (miles away; I was on foot). Went to Safeway. They don’t sell them anymore either. Nowhere else was open.
Now I’m back in my warm house. I’m sorry mate, I can’t help you. If you’re genuine, then I hope someone else can.
May 25th, 2006 at 8:36pm
He should have gone while he was still alive. It is such an old beggar ploy.
May 25th, 2006 at 9:11pm
heh. You’re probably right, of course. It’s never just “I need to make a phone call”, it’s “I need to make a phone call about my dead relative”. It’s never just “Do you have a cigarette”, it’s “Do you have a cigarette… my handbag got stolen!”
Pushing the envelope a bit too much.
May 26th, 2006 at 9:40am
Why not just offer him your mobile phone to make a quick call while you stand right next to him.
I could almost guarantee he would turn you down as he was trying it on.
May 26th, 2006 at 12:47pm
Daniel
yes, very sad. It’s a real worry and makes me angry.
Ten years ago we wouldn’t be using terms like “payphone” in Australia. I realise that’s what Telstra now call public phones, but it’s another example of Americanisation of Aussie life…
May 26th, 2006 at 2:10pm
Some guy came up to me and asked me for spare change. Said he wasn’t going to shit me, he was going to buy a beer. I gave him the money simply because I liked the honesty.
May 27th, 2006 at 1:32pm
Saw that bloke at Huntingdale station on Tuesday. He gets around. Clearly my 50c didn’t go too far.
May 30th, 2006 at 10:36am
It was a Thursday night, you could have driven to Southland and bought a phonecard from the newsagent there