First, the call:
Tonight, I was walking around an outdoor shopping mall after returning a book to Barnes & Noble (I joined a book club and thought the meeting was next week when actually it's tomorrow-- no time to read the book. Heard it sucked anway). So, I'm walking around looking at baby clothes at Carter's and my cell rings. It's some totally ghetto girl I could hardly understand. I really have no idea what she was saying, and so I tell her she has the wrong number and wait for her to say something. She keeps talking, oblivious, so I just hang up. Well, a few minutes later, my phone rings again and it's the same number. I decide to answer it. She doesn't even say anything for the first minute because she's yelling at someone in the backgroung. I'm listening. It's pretty funny. So finally, she comes on the line and starts talking. I have no idea what she's saying, so I tell her she has the wrong number. Then she says, "Is this Hannah?" and I'm like, "um, yeah. Who is this?" and she says, "I'm wondering if you still have that push mower for sale." Huh? Push mower? I'm not selling a push mower. So she keeps asking me about the push mower, so I finally hang up. I decide to call my sister and tell her about the ass that just called me, and when my sister answers, she's laughing hysterically. Then, I know. It was her boyfriend Marc. He's the funniest guy I know, and he can totally pull off a ghetto girl voice! HAHA!
Apparently, he got this same call earlier in the night (except his was real) and decided to do the same call to me. Except when he got the call, he played along with her. My sister told me the whole conversation.
Lady: "I'm calling about the push mower."
Marc: "What? A hand job?"
Lady: "No! A push mower! I'm looking for a push mower!"
Marc: "Oh . . . I don't have a push mower, but you want me to come do your lawn? You need your lawn did?" (yes, he said did.)
And it went on and on until finally she said:
"This isn't Melvin!" and hung up. HAHA! I love prank calls! And I especially love anyone who at the age of 35 (Marc) still thinks they're hilarious!!!!!
OK, now for the updates:
-- Remember when I posted about my biological dad? Well, I saw a wedding announcement in the paper this past weekend. His fourth marriage. It felt weird, and for some reason, it hurt.
-- I should stop seeing everything as a sign. Remember this? I gave some money to woman I thought needed help. Oddly enough, minutes before her approach, I had just been talking to someone about how God places events on our paths to test us. I think I believe that. At least I used to. Now, I just don't know. Anyway, a woman approached me tonight needing help. I'm a Christian and I'd rather help someone in the chance they're for real and let God judge the rest. But then, I'm listening to her story, and it's starting to sound really familiar. Then I figure it out. It's the SAME woman with the SAME story. I wanted to call her out on it, to tell her I knew she was lying and that I don't appreciate her trying to take what little money I've got. But I didn't. She was eyeing Olivia pretty closely, and if she had a knife or something, or a gun, I just don't want to think about it. So I told her I had no cash (not really even a lie) and left. Then I told a store manager to call the police.
Would you have called her out on it?
What is your philosophy when it comes to people begging for money? Do you refuse and assume they're a fake (when they probably are) or do you chance it and give anyway? I'm curious. I've always given money, but maybe I need to rethink it?
Posted by Hannah at March 27, 2007 08:39 PMI've never given because I always figured that if people really needed help, there are better opportunities for it - food kitchens, shelters, etc. I would gladly help those places or donate needed items and food.
Posted by: Laura at March 27, 2007 10:28 PMI remember that post about the homeless lady. I remember feeling a little guilty b/c I knew I wouldn't have given her a dime. If someone caught me in the right mood, I might offer to go buy her a hamburger or something, but they usually turn their nose up at anything other than a cash offer. I'll never forget when a bum lady who was smoking came up to me in downtown Chattanooga and asked for money for food, and I told her that if she could afford to smoke then she probably had more money than me. She didn't like that too much. I was pregnant and hormonal, or at least that's what I'll blame it on.
Posted by: Chas at March 28, 2007 12:22 AMoooh are you reading power of one? I LOVED that book when I read it about 10 years ago!!!
I don't give money. I am a skeptic and don't want to encourage begging. I watched a 20/20 special on how much money beggars make and I haven't given since! However, if it's a street performer playing a guitar or singing, I do give money, and I donate to my church and our local food bank and homeless shelter- they can always go there for food, clothing and shelter!!!! I want to encourage them to go to an accredited and safe place and not beg strangers on the street (increasing the risk that people will come up to me and assault my baby or something!!)
Posted by: girl from florida at March 28, 2007 08:28 AMI've never been asked for money like that, so I can't really answer your question! But OMG, those prank calls ... TOO FUNNY! :) I love the "hand job" part, LOL! :) I think that prank calls are funny, took, as long as no one gets seriously upset or scared.
Posted by: Lisanne at March 28, 2007 08:33 AMI live just minutes outside of DC in a fairly wealthy suburb, and we deal with people asking for money all the time. It gets really frustrating. However, as a social worker, I know that shelters and food kitchens aren't as safe as people think. Folks without homes, for the most part, are scared of having to go to shelters. There is a ton of stealing and assualt that goes on....It's so sad. So, we've come to the decision that we will give food but not money to most people who ask. Sometimes we stop by McDonlds to pick up a bunch of $1 gift certificates and we give those out. There have definately been people who have turned their noses up at our offer of food, but many people have been very thankful. I take the same walk to the metro every morning and, mostly, see the same folks on a day to day basis. Some of their stories make me realize that most Americans who live paycheck to paycheck, and lack other support (families or a back up plan) are just one tragic event away from being homeless. Not every person asking for money has a mental illness or an addiction. Some are just victims of bad luck. And once a person's looses their home and their phone, it's really tough to get a job.
-Kate, a lurker who thinks your blog is great!
i've never been approached for money, but i don't think i would give any. like chas said, i would offer to buy someone something to eat, but i'm just untrusting. i'm afraid they wouldn't use the money for food.
Posted by: cady at March 28, 2007 10:30 AMnever had anyone ask me for money... not even when i was in Chicago all those times in college... but I also don't carry any cash on me... so can't give if ya got no cash lol...
But that prank call is awesome... maybe I will have Jeremy to that to his brothers... lol...
Posted by: Shannon O. at March 28, 2007 11:06 AMI always say no too - not that it's happened often. In this day and age it just doesn't feel safe. I know my mom offered to buy this one guy some food and when they went to order the people at the food place seemed to know him so you wonder if he's eating better than some of the rest of us! Crazy. I do want to help people but there are ways of doing it where you know that what you are doing is going to actual people in need.
Posted by: villagegirl at March 28, 2007 06:38 PMI work in the cbd and come across people like this semi-regularly. I never give them cash because they always seem to be looking at my bag and I am terrified of a bag snatch. Plus I don't really carry cash. I've had people who are obviously high on drugs ask for money and I've had to say no because you just don't know what they are capable of. With that said, I've given a little before to people who just simply looked like they needed a hand.
Posted by: Trace at March 30, 2007 08:38 PM