Whenever Newsletter 2-12

Detractors of Snapshots say that I am unfeeling toward the homeless. They don't think it's funny to depict bums bathing in the car wash or holding panhandler express machines for us to swipe our debit cards. They are not amused by placing the classified ads in a hobo's collection plate.

Leaving Ralph's yesterday, I passed a homeless man sitting on the curb. As I loaded groceries into the car, I got to thinking that maybe I have been unfair to the homeless. Perhaps it was just another day for you and me in paradise. I thought twice.

Because I didn't have cash, I decided to give the man a cantaloupe. Sure, it was a messy fruit, but this was a messy man. As I approached, he asked me if I had some spare change. [Spare change: money I don't need anymore?]

"No," I said, "but this is for you."

I handed over the cantaloupe. The man took the fruit, plopped it on the ground beside him and yelled, "Damn." He was like a boy being told that he couldn't sleep over at his friend's house. I tried not to laugh.

I guess the resale value of cantaloupe isn't what it used to be.

Next round of cartoons, look for a bum buying whiskey with pre-owned produce. It may not be realistic, but my detractors will love it.