Richard
Elite Member
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2000
- Messages
- 4,997
- Location
- Knoxville, TN
- Tractor
- International 1066 Full sized JCB Loader/Backhoe and a John Deere 430 to mow with
\"S\" on my forehead for sucker??
Well, do I have a big “S” (Sucker) on my forehead or is this a touchy feel good story...?
Just now went to store to get some printer paper. Walking out to car and am tossing things in back seat when a car drives up... Car contains young guy driving (mid 20’s I’d guess) and a female in passenger seat. Both look a bit unkempt and frankly, grungy.
He rolls his window down & says “Sir”...
Not being accustomed to THAT many people calling me “Sir” (I guess I’m finally getting past my boyish looks...)
I turn & acknowledge
“Uh... my mother is over there in the hospital and we’re from Johnson City (couple hours away). We came in to see her and afterwards went to a movie where we were robbed. They stabbed me here in the neck (as he points to a 4x4 sized gauze affixed to his neck) and they took all our money”
“I was uh...well...we’re from Johnson City and uh...”
So, presuming they were actually bumming money (drug?) I decided to sidestep them a touch and asked “So do you need directions on how to get back in the direction you’re wanting to go??”
“Uh..no” he says while clearly showing signs of struggling with this conversation more from a mental aspect than a physical one (ie, not under any apparent influence of anything)
“I uh...well, we got robbed last night while at the movie, they stole her purse and my wallet. We even slept in the car last night since we’re not from here. We’re almost empty on our tank of gas and haven’t eaten...I was wondering if you might have $4.00 or $5.00 you could spare for us”
I asked if they had enough gas to get home and the answer was no.
So, fearing this might be a new twist on the “will work for food” gambit, I said quite honestly, “Well, I’m on empty myself and am heading straight for the gas station, follow me”
I mulled the story over while on way to station. I didn’t really want to reduce his dignity by grilling the guy to the 3rd degree in case it’s a true story. On the other hand, didn’t want to hand cash over to someone willy nilly. Because of that, I thought I’d just put the gas in his car for him, this way he has enough to get home AND if it IS a “will work for food” scam, I’d rather get scammed giving him gas than cash for drugs.
We land at gas station and I filled my car up. I’d also decided that if the story was legit then they might also be hungry.
I filled my car then took hose over and filled their car. He got out and was interestingly quiet as he mumbled a bit on how embarrassing this was. I figured he was either a decent actor or perhaps there was some merit to his story.
He told me they just bought the car with their tax return (it did have a temporary tag in window), he worked for the utility board & I could see his service badge (or whatever...I wasn’t paying particular attention to him really) His wife/girlfriend was babbling that it was in his left side pocket blah blah blah.
None the less, I reached into my pocket and pulled out a $10.00 bill and a business card. I asked him if they’d eaten (no) so I gave him the $10.00 and my card & told him if I heard back from him that was fine and if I did not, that too, was fine.
He swore he was going to send me a cashiers check and I said it wasn’t necessary to go to THAT extreme (a regular check is fine if he did anything).
They both thanked me profusely and we all got in our cars & drove off.
Cash: $10.00
Gas: $20.00 to fill his tank
I’ve blown more for lesser reasons. Still not 100% sure about his story although he did say the police took a report and this location had numerous auto break ins at the same time yada yada yada.
Kind of makes me feel good in a cautious way as the entire time of this I was trying to keep a keen eye out for something suspicious. Never happened.
Perhaps I’ll know the ending in couple weeks if I get a check in the mail. If that happens, I’ll feel real good inside. Otherwise, I’ll just mark it up on the “attempted good deed” side.
/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Well, do I have a big “S” (Sucker) on my forehead or is this a touchy feel good story...?
Just now went to store to get some printer paper. Walking out to car and am tossing things in back seat when a car drives up... Car contains young guy driving (mid 20’s I’d guess) and a female in passenger seat. Both look a bit unkempt and frankly, grungy.
He rolls his window down & says “Sir”...
Not being accustomed to THAT many people calling me “Sir” (I guess I’m finally getting past my boyish looks...)
I turn & acknowledge
“Uh... my mother is over there in the hospital and we’re from Johnson City (couple hours away). We came in to see her and afterwards went to a movie where we were robbed. They stabbed me here in the neck (as he points to a 4x4 sized gauze affixed to his neck) and they took all our money”
“I was uh...well...we’re from Johnson City and uh...”
So, presuming they were actually bumming money (drug?) I decided to sidestep them a touch and asked “So do you need directions on how to get back in the direction you’re wanting to go??”
“Uh..no” he says while clearly showing signs of struggling with this conversation more from a mental aspect than a physical one (ie, not under any apparent influence of anything)
“I uh...well, we got robbed last night while at the movie, they stole her purse and my wallet. We even slept in the car last night since we’re not from here. We’re almost empty on our tank of gas and haven’t eaten...I was wondering if you might have $4.00 or $5.00 you could spare for us”
I asked if they had enough gas to get home and the answer was no.
So, fearing this might be a new twist on the “will work for food” gambit, I said quite honestly, “Well, I’m on empty myself and am heading straight for the gas station, follow me”
I mulled the story over while on way to station. I didn’t really want to reduce his dignity by grilling the guy to the 3rd degree in case it’s a true story. On the other hand, didn’t want to hand cash over to someone willy nilly. Because of that, I thought I’d just put the gas in his car for him, this way he has enough to get home AND if it IS a “will work for food” scam, I’d rather get scammed giving him gas than cash for drugs.
We land at gas station and I filled my car up. I’d also decided that if the story was legit then they might also be hungry.
I filled my car then took hose over and filled their car. He got out and was interestingly quiet as he mumbled a bit on how embarrassing this was. I figured he was either a decent actor or perhaps there was some merit to his story.
He told me they just bought the car with their tax return (it did have a temporary tag in window), he worked for the utility board & I could see his service badge (or whatever...I wasn’t paying particular attention to him really) His wife/girlfriend was babbling that it was in his left side pocket blah blah blah.
None the less, I reached into my pocket and pulled out a $10.00 bill and a business card. I asked him if they’d eaten (no) so I gave him the $10.00 and my card & told him if I heard back from him that was fine and if I did not, that too, was fine.
He swore he was going to send me a cashiers check and I said it wasn’t necessary to go to THAT extreme (a regular check is fine if he did anything).
They both thanked me profusely and we all got in our cars & drove off.
Cash: $10.00
Gas: $20.00 to fill his tank
I’ve blown more for lesser reasons. Still not 100% sure about his story although he did say the police took a report and this location had numerous auto break ins at the same time yada yada yada.
Kind of makes me feel good in a cautious way as the entire time of this I was trying to keep a keen eye out for something suspicious. Never happened.
Perhaps I’ll know the ending in couple weeks if I get a check in the mail. If that happens, I’ll feel real good inside. Otherwise, I’ll just mark it up on the “attempted good deed” side.
/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
