It was a rough day.
Not even 8 am yet, and I could tell.
“Maybe some donuts for the office will make me feel better.”
I approached Dunkin Donuts and a homeless man stood by the door. This happens a lot. I braced myself for the request for money, but he simply opened the door and said “Hi Pretty Lady.”
I bought the donuts and as I went to exit, he opened the door again.
Now, I’ve been opening doors for some time. I’ve gotten pretty good at it too. I can open doors while on the phone, with my arms full, and if the door swings the right direction, I can even open a door with my back.
I have allowed a man to open the door for me before. I’ve spent time with men who insist on doing it. I admit, it does make one feel special, and if a man takes the time to open the door I will always give a gracious thank you.
But this situation was a little awkward. I know how to open the door. I am capable. This man is opening the door for me and I know he has other motives than just because I’m a “Pretty Lady”, because he opened the door for the middle aged business man who was walking behind me.
He opened the door again anyway, and I smiled and said “Thank you”, even though I didn’t really mean it. Even though I was thinking “I can open the door myself thanks”.
That’s the precise moment when he said,
“What. No tip?”
12 responses so far ↓
daniel // March 19, 2009 at 12:05 pm |
“…and then they will ask, ‘lord, when did we see you?’”
Natalie Jane // March 19, 2009 at 12:08 pm |
Thanks for ruining my story, Dan. Sheesh.
daniel // March 19, 2009 at 1:35 pm |
…don’t worry too much, that thought disrupts many of the stories I tell myself…
Sarah // March 19, 2009 at 3:07 pm |
This from the girl who gave her leftovers to the homeless guy in Nashville…I really thought you were going to say you gave him a donut.
I was actually thinking several things, all that started with the words, “Here’s a tip….”
alece // March 20, 2009 at 1:13 am |
i was surprised by the ending, too.
and now i’m craving a jelly donut. dangit.
Natalie Jane // March 20, 2009 at 7:12 am |
The homeless guy in Nashville asked for food. Which I gave him, and he ate with tears in his eyes, and grateful words on his lips.
I’ve only ever heard maybe one homeless person ask for food in New York and I didn’t mention that after the banana fiasco, a woman offered him a wrapped granola bar, and he refused it. He insisted that he only accepted organic prewrapped food. But he would accept money if she had it.
daniel // March 20, 2009 at 7:58 am |
…”organic prewrapped food”… god, i love humanity…
Erick // March 20, 2009 at 8:35 am |
Coincidentally, I saw the Dunkin Donuts guy on the subway platform today singing and dancing his ass off. (It was pretty funny). He seemed to be holding a nice, hot cup of tea. I should take a picture of him and post it.
He’s clearly insane and he’s been harassing people for years at the Dunkin Donuts and the Japanese place next door. Giving him money just keeps him there in perpetuity.
Laura Beth Pomeroy // March 20, 2009 at 4:33 pm |
Hah…you know what’s funny? When Josh first met me I was lugging a guitar amp from our backyard into the house and he offered to help me. I told him no thanks and that I had it. Later after we were married he said he had thought I was rude because he was just being a gentleman.I told him that all I was thinking was that it would have taken more effort to stop, put the amp down, and move out of his way then to simply continue. I had carried it out there and all the way back to the door before his offer. I figured I could take it the last five steps as well.
Joy Renée // March 20, 2009 at 5:12 pm |
all i could think through the whole post was how much i’d love some dunkin donuts.
daniellehodgson // March 20, 2009 at 5:56 pm |
i’m sorry it was a rough day. :(
Stephanie // March 23, 2009 at 8:44 pm |
snarl…
it’s not like the doorman at a fancy hotel expects a tip – only if they carry your bags.