The Universe is a Mother Fucker

[keiramarcos]

So, my husband and I -- are no good, bad, horrible enablers to each other regarding bad eating habits. We decided around 8:30 that the perfect Friday night meal would be cheeseburgers and fries from Five Guys. If you have a Five Guys in your area and you haven't eaten it (and you're not allergic to peanuts) I highly recommend you take your ass to the nearest one and chow down. I actually ordered online and went to pick up because they don't deliver in my area which is a low down dirty shame. Just sayin'. 

Okay, so I go to pick up my food and it's nearly 9pm when I get there which is fine because my fries won't get cooked until I get there so I get all the benefits of an extraordinary portion of potatoes deep fried in peanut oil. The wonders of this absolutely CAN NOT be underestimated. 

There is a woman hanging out around the front door -- asking for money so she can feed her kids. She helpfully points to a car with three kids in it. I'll be honest I have a hard time not giving people with kids money. It's a weakness for me. She said that they hadn't eaten all day, which -- no. I can't ignore that. So I offer to buy her and her three kids food. This woman actually said to me, "I'd prefer the cash."

Well, I admit that put me off but not from feeding her kids. The oldest of them looked about fifteen so I went over to the car and asked if she was hungry and she said yes. So I told her to bring the other two inside and I'd buy them dinner and this girl didn't hesitate. Her mother just huffed and glared at her while she got the two little kids out of the car and came inside with me. I set them up with food and as I was leaving -- the woman was trying to get money out of an old couple to feed her starving children. 

I don't mean to judge people, except when I do. I don't know this woman's situation but if someone offered to buy your kids dinner and they hadn't eaten all day -- wouldn't you say thank you? She outright glared at me when I got in my car to leave with my food. While her kids were inside absolutely devouring the food I'd gotten them. This woman doesn't deserve to be a mother and half way home I burst into tears because I'd give just about anything if those three kids had been mine. 

SIGH. 

Comments

[ladyholder.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that is assholish and ungrateful. Her kids got *fed*. And if she is panhandling for that, she got what they needed.

If she was trying for easy cash for other things? :: Sigh :: I can only hope that it was for a roof over the kids heads. But... Parts of me are saying stuff about her using the money for other reasons.

But I am glad that you fed the kids. They at least, come out of this the better for it.

~L

[oleandr.livejournal.com]

If I could give you a hug right now I fucking would. That woman is an ocean going cunt and those kids won't EVER forget what you did for them PQ trust me on this. <3

[syble4.livejournal.com]

You are right, she doesn't deserve them. You did a wonderful thing. I doubt the woman would have bought food with any money she got.

[syble4.livejournal.com]

Oh I found out I do have a Five Guys near me. What do you suggest a first timer should order - besides the fries. :)

[azurehart.livejournal.com]

Things like that make me absolutely furious.

I think it's obvious that her kids were the least of her concerns and she wanted the money for something other than food for her children. That's why I rarely give money to panhandlers. What I do is I keep bags of non perishable food in my truck and if I see someone in need I will offer them a bag with things like crackers, tuna in poptop cans, fruit cups, and if they have a dog with them a box of milkbones.

If they accept it I figure they really are needy, if they cuss me out I resist the urge to peg a can of soup at their head.

I'm glad you took the time to feed those poor children.

[karasumaakane]

I don't know that woman's situation, but I'm judging the shit out of her. She seriously shouldn't be a mother. Shit like that is unfair to both you and those kids. The Universe can definitely be a mother fucker.

[smileleigh.livejournal.com]

I want to hug you so much. Some people don't understand the gift having a child is. She wasn't there to feed them, they were window dressing. What's worse was they were hungry, but she didn't care.
You may be a Tough-Ass-Wonder Woman, but you are a Sweet and Wonderful Woman too (even if you try to keep that undercover).

Hugs...

[winterhart]

Just hugs.

yes, people do not deserve to be parents, and people who deserve to be, aren't.

my brother's ex-wife, doing cocaine in front of her son... pawning all his electronics.

[slvrbld747.livejournal.com]

Ah, see you are unfairly judging the universe for this woman's rudeness, selfishness, and possible abuse. Sighs unhappily along with you, you did a good thing for these kids, and if I wasn't so suspicious of the system itself, I would have recced turning her in. Problem is, where would these kids have ended up? Somewhere worse?

They most definitely would have been split up, and it sounds like all they have is each other. I am sorry for your sadness, and loss, but thank you for proving that sometimes you really can count on the kindness of strangers. -SB

[auntbijou.livejournal.com]

I love you, Keira. You are awesome. And yeah, that woman did not deserve those kids. Or rather, those kids didn't deserve to have her as a mother. Her kids were starving because she was using the money she was getting for something other than food. Seriously, panhandling outside a restaurant?? And someone offers to buy your kids food? And you turn it down? Seriously??

Good on you for feeding them, Keira.

[antesqueluz.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

[timespirt.livejournal.com]

A lot of times it's a scam to get money. If she was interested in food she would have just accepted your kind offer and thanked you for the food. They need a new mom! "HUGS"

When I was away years ago, me and my mom saw a man and woman with a sign that said "will work for food" When we came out of the store we went to we decided to give some money to them but they were gone. We were watching the news that night and they had the story of people with those signs and the fact that it was all a scam to get people to give them money.

[i-cant-talk-now.livejournal.com]

Alright, so I know you are not asking for this advice, but I am going to go with it anyway. I unfortunately deal with this kind of situation regularly in my job in public safety. You see people make decisions, stupid ones, selfish ones, wrong ones. and you ache with wanting to fix it. and this is what gets me through the day. I remind myself that when i was given the opportunity, I did something. I did something good. It may not fix the problem, it may not finish it, it may not be permanent. but in that moment, i cared and accomplished something. and the people i helped will remember that, even when they wont recognize it or acknowledge it.

You fed hungry children.

Can't get any better than that.

[sarehkert.livejournal.com]

It is so hard not to judge isn't it? We have a homeless guy that hangs around work. Our local charities are always helping him, with shelter and food. Which he often abuses, he has been helped so often and by so many, but if you give him money, you see him later in the day with a bottle in a brown paper bag. I used to quite happily buy him a coffee, a sandwich, even a soft drink, but I refused to give him money, and since the day he came into my work, and demanded that I give him money, I now refuse to do even that. Quite happy to give to the Salvos and soup kitchens, but one individual can make you so angry and turn you off. And those poor children did not ask to be put in that situation and you are right, they were hungry and you not only offered but fed them. Thank you is only two words.

[admiralandrea.livejournal.com]

If she "prefers cash" - like some sort of store or something! - she wasn't planning to feed her kids. Probably a habit/addiction of her own instead, either drugs or alcohol I'd guess.

So by actually feeding those kids, you did the right thing.

[pyrotechnik.livejournal.com]

Right, so I rarely comment, but here is my two cents. Those kids won't remember the people who gave mommy money. What they will remember? The nice lady who made sure they got a meal. Now maybe they did need the money, maybe they didn't. But from the way you said she was acting? She wasn't going to use the money for the kids.

[witchdoctor2.livejournal.com]

In winter, I sometimes get asked by obviously homeless (usually men) for a few dollars - where possible, I keep a couple of gold coins in my overcoat pocket rather than get out my wallet.

Some years ago I read a series by Mercedes Lackey that mentioned runaway kids, and the solution mentioned was to give pre-paid vouchers to local food stores/takeaways, so at least it was used for food and essentials rather than drugs or other things. I always thought this was a good suggestion.

[winter-elf.livejournal.com]

you know, that's why I give money to organizations who feed people - because so often people on the street - it's just a scam and all they want is money, not to make their situation better.

Feeding the kids was the way to go, and so glad you were able to give them a meal.

[hab318princess.livejournal.com]

agree with the others, feeding the kids was an awesome thing to do!

[erimari.livejournal.com]

De-lurking. I have to say I really admire you for what you did. A lot of people wouldn't bother offering to buy food, let alone reach out to the children after their mother took on that kind of attitude. It's a hell of a lot easier to pretend you don't notice. I feel a little presumtuous saying so, but good for you.

[maryperk73703.livejournal.com]

Good for you!

I remember years ago when one of my older kids was little there was a lady on the side of the road with a sign 'I need money for diapers'. So, I figured I could go back and get more diapers we aren't that well off, but it was only diapers. When I stopped she told me she didn't want the diapers, only cash. I didn't force the diapers on her, but I didn't give her cash.

I hate how the experience makes me a bit cynical about such things these days. If I saw her today, I'm not sure I'd even think about stopping. I'd think she's just trying to get cash.

[freak-in-corner.livejournal.com]

Its inspirational to read that people are actually decent humans and do something nice for others just because it is he right thing to do. I must say I don't give beggers money if only because I refuse to get my purse out in front of them. That and I used to regularly see the same guy ask for money so he can go home and see his sick mom, and that a few times when me or the person I was with gave them some money instead of saying thank you they just ask for more money. But what you did was actually help the people who deserved it and for that go you *hugs*

[mistress-tien.livejournal.com]

Thank you for feeding those kids!

Someday I'll get to a Five Guys. I've been told it's almost as good as In-N-Out ;-)

[kazbaby]

I've been in the same spot, received the glares and shed the tears and can honestly say there is no one I hate more than fucking cunts like that woman who don't appreciate what they have.

[ladymina.livejournal.com]

I refuse to give people begging for food for themselves, their kids or their dogs or whatever money
I have offered food, I have offered to buy (and bought) some dogfood and even let them tell me what, but I absolutely refuse to support their bad habits (drugs, liquor)

You did the right thing, and her behaviour shows pretty clear that the money wasn't going to feed the kids

[internetname.livejournal.com]

Can I take it from the video that -- oh, sorry, yes, starving kids and a shit of a mother, good on you for feeding them -- that you too have devoured the love and sexiness that is Sherlock on the BBC?

Yum.

(shit of a mother, poor kids)

[keiramarcos]

I am a huge fan of Sherlock.