Street Wise...She Asked for Money, But She Got a Cigarette Instead

We were all waiting at the bus stop, I checked the bus schedule and wondered why the bus was late. It was Sunday 2 p.m. Normally these are not busy times and there should be no delay. Anyway I decided to be patient with bus service and try not to get frustrated so I paid attention to what was going on around me. Then I noticed the lady sitting on the floor about 5 yards away begging.

Now let me confess. Sometimes I push myself hard to not feel pity for beggars on the street. I remind myself of the stories and reports I hear of how some of them are richer than the person who takes pity on them and gives them some money.

I also hear that sometimes they are the robbers or pick pockets molesting innocent people going about their daily lives. So my guard was up on this occasion. Then I noticed an act that completely changed my perspective. A gentleman (or should I say 'gangsta') drew near the lady and within seconds passed her some cigarettes, quickly she collected them and pretended nothing had happened. She continued begging. 

Who was fooling who? Is she really a beggar or just part of a gang? Did she really need cigarettes or money or food? Is the man who gave her the cigarettes doing her any good? 
Witnessing that act changed my thoughts about begging generally.  A beggar is not always looking out for food and maybe they are vulnerable to all kinds of exploitation. Their original reason for begging may be an insight into a much larger issue at the core of that practice.