Tell No One!

Rode my bike down to Venice Beach today
The usual freak show
It's boring once you have seen it once
Then rode up to Santa Monica
where my new apartment would be
Seemed nice and quiet
A hell of hill to ride up though

Rode back to Mar Vista
On the way stopped at a gas station for water
Outside I noticed a young girl asking for a dollar
from a stranger for gas
He gave her a dollar
Inside she cut in the checkout line in front of me
And said to the guy in front
"This is probably a bad time, but can I get a dollar for gas to get home?
Somebody stole my wallet."
This guy did not spare any change


I felt bad for her
What if it was my kid out there
with no money
trying to get home


I put a $5 on the counter and told the clerk to give her a dollar from my change
She looked surprised and thanked me
I took my change and left the small change too, all $1.80 or so
She thanked me again and again


As I turned my bike around and rolled away
I saw her walking to a new black Mercedes
An addict looking guy on a cell phone got out and started to pump gas
she glanced at me and grinned, or was it a smile
No matter
She didn't seem like she was going home


I wanted to shout out at her and say
"Never tell of this to anyone!"
On the account of an old Persian fable that came to me:

A horseman came upon a tired walking man
The man begged to be let to ride the horse for a bit
To rest a bit
The horseman pitied him and allowed him to ride
Soon as he was upon the horse
He whipped the horse and galloped away
The horseman shouted out
"Never tell of this to anyone!"
"Why?" asked the thief
"No rider will pity a walker again"

So, tell no one of this!
What if my kid was trying to get home