I want to believe.
I’ve come across parking lot scam artists before, but this man was either the best one I’ve ever met, or legitimately out of gas for his car. So there we were, middle-aged white man and the son of two immigrants from Pakistan, strangers suddenly attempting to establish trust, in a parking lot in Mississauga. He asked if I had a gas canister first, said his two kids were waiting in the car, that I could check them out myself to make sure he wasn’t lying. He said he could walk to the nearby station and buy a canister for $8.99, that we could go together if I didn’t believe him.
“That’s okay, I believe you” I said without thinking.
I watched him as he used my cell phone to call a couple of numbers, frustrated when they didn’t pick up. I really wanted to believe his pathetic circumstance. I stopped him as he started to appeal to a couple walking to their car and gave him $12 to buy a canister. He asked for my e-mail so he could Paypal back the money. “Karma man, whatever goes around comes around” he said. “I’m not doing this for Karma.” I replied, as I ripped out a piece of paper from my notebook and wrote down my e-mail address. I silenced a call from my friend waiting inside Demetres, trying to remember the surah and verse, but couldn’t. I flipped the paper over and wrote it down anyway:
“Is there any reward for Good, other than Good?” - Qur’an
I gave it to him and for some reason said thank you. Two minutes later I was briefly explaining the episode to my friend. “You got screwed dude” she replied nonchalantly, going back to her menu. She’s right. What the hell was that? I should have asked to see his kids, I should have wondered why he didn’t have a cell phone, I should have asked to see his ID. I’m not sure why I won’t let go of this obsession with good, with wanting to believe in good. I hated the certitude in my friend’s voice, but I hated myself more for the doubt in mine. I hated the idea of that man taking something so sacred from me for $12, hated the idea of a feeling so amazing turn so ugly. I want to believe that the number he called from my phone will reply to my text message. I want to believe that $12 will transfer into my Paypal account in three to five business days. I want to believe he got in his car and told his kids that a stranger helped them get home that night. I want to believe.
Popularity: 7% [?]
Im not Muslim but obviously thats irrelevant because this speaks to everyone who wants to believe in “good”, thank you for this!!
Why do you have to take it that way? Think of it as a random act of kindness on your part!! Even if he didnt have two kids waiting in the car *which he probably did – given he offered you to check* he still probably needed those 12 bux – for what? Drugs, MAYBE, YES! But you dont know that! Give him the benefit of the doubt! Plus, “actions are judged by intentions” – so your good! :)
Quite a scenario you encountered that night! I told you to check out the kids! :)
Anyways, if the shoe was on the other foot, I would’ve had a similar reaction, despite my cynical mind telling me it’s a hoax.
So Chiku, continue living in your idealist bubble. I won’t pop it again, I promise.
Well it’s been over a week now so I think we can probably call this a dupe job.
Thank you for the comments! While I’d like to think he was a needy person who just realized that lying was the only way to get that money instead of begging, it’s still frustrating to hear about successful “homeless” entrepreneurs who make a very good living off these scams. Remembering his neat attire and the thought that he COULD have had those two kids in a car for the purpose of a scam is creepy. I think good does have its conditions, and we shouldn’t feel guilty asking a person in need to provide evidence if it’s not apparent right away.
“Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.”
But I do hope my quote spoke to his conscious. :)