By By Dennie Quill, ContributorBEGGING HAS become the new national pastime. And the Christ-mas season beckons beggars from all quarters. Men, women and children can be seen with outstretched arms in some of the most unexpected places.
If you think I am exaggerating follow me as I relate my experience last Thursday as I moved around Kingston. I got out of my apartment door in a fairly large complex and I was greeted by the janitor who was tidying the area. He gave me a huge smile and I waited for what I knew was coming. He needed a "likkle help-up fi buy lunch." I gave him $100. This has happened on several occasions but I didn't mind so much, he was doing something to make my life more pleasant.
Five minutes later I was at an intersection and much as I wanted to crash through the last beam of amber I couldn't, so I was held at the lights. Two men approached me and I told them I did not want them to wipe my windscreen, undeterred they asked me if I had any small change. I emptied my coin catcher and gave them all.
CHARITY
My next stop was at a bank in New Kingston. As I pulled into the parking lot I noticed the security guard. It is one of these lots where space is tight, I am backing in and Mr. Security Guard has his eyes trained on me. As soon as I opened the door, he was by my side with the question "would you like to buy me a Chrissmus lunch?" I had never even seen this man before so I replied that I had no intention of buying him anything and continued on my way, wondering when will security guards be paid a living wage so they don't have to rely on charity. These persons often work in sensitive areas and a hungry man can easily be bought. I remember being approached by a woman security officer at the airport once. She had not eaten all day, she reported, and she looked convincing. She was begging some lunch money and I thought of what $1,000 could do to such a person.
It is only about quarter of 9 o'clock and already I had been approached three times for alms. I am steaming by now. Having completed my business I returned to the parking lot, and Mr. Security was at it again, chatting up a woman who had just arrived.
By now I really wanted to get off the road and to the safe haven of my office but I had to pay my electricity bill and I like to do it the old-fashioned way by trekking to the JPSCo's outlet. I chose the Ruthven Road office. As I neared the entrance there was a man begging by the side of the road. When I told him I had nothing, he described me in the most colourful language imaginable.
So it's off to the office where I expect to get a few hours respite. Of course I don't really have a problem with itinerant vendors who sell fruits and cake, although it can be an unwelcome intrusion but in this instance I am merely paying for something I may eat later on.
It's 6.00 p.m., perfect time for me to go home. I prefer to leave the office late so I don't have to contend with the New Kingston traffic. I have one more chore to do, that is to check my letter box.
There among the pieces of mail is a small envelope from "my letter carrier". I rented a letter box because the postal service does not deliver letters to my address. Like many people in Kingston I find this a bit discriminatory, so the answer is to get a box for which you pay an annual fee and you have to trek to the post office to collect your mail. Now why on earth would I tip a letter carrier for taking mail to my box?
TIPPING IS EXPECTED
AT CHRISTMAS
It is customary that between November and December one has to pay extra to people who perform services for you throughout the year. Tipping is expected at Christmas. And the list will include newspaper delivery man, garbage collector, helper, gardener, personal trainer, hairdresser, barber. They say tipping is a voluntary action, but sometimes it borders on extortion. I have heard horror stories about mail disappearing, messages go undelivered etc., when a resident has not been as appreciative as expected at Christmas time.
As you celebrate this Christmas may I remind you that the child whose birth we are celebrating got gifts from the wise men they were not solicited it was purely a voluntary act. Let's find the Christ in Christmas!
Dennie Quill is a veteran journalist who may be reached at denniequill@hotmail.com.
