And I don’t mean my hind-end.
Tonight while closing the store I left a couple of chairs and a table outside so a group of customers could finish what they were doing. After the customers left, a bum came up and sat in one of the chairs. When one of my partners went to retrieve the chairs and table, the bum refused to get up. So we waited ’til we were ready to set the alarm and go home, but all the fellow would say was, “Uno momento.”
Hmmm.
I’ve seen more than one homeless person get physically hostile towards someone, not even necessarily someone who’s actually done anything to them. After asking him myself to relinquish control over the chair–and receiving the same response that my partner received–I debated whether or not I should just go and get the chair while he was on it. Not wanting to have to deal with either a) having to physically remove someone who may become aggressive, and b) not wanting to be in a situation where I might have to hurt someone for personal (or professional) protection, I just opted to call the Sheriffs department. No big deal on their end; the Sheriff came and asked him to leave, he took my name, birthday and store phone number down, and we all left.
Not exactly sure I did the right thing. My heart goes out to the homeless community. Even those who choose to be there instead of work or family or whatever. But just the same, I didn’t want to lose a chair and possibly receive a write-up. I don’t know if I should have just let the guy sit there and risk it, possibly showing a kindness he might receive as love, or just say, “Screw you, hippie,” and do my work thing.
Hmm