James Pine Has A Blog

I did something out of character during lunch today; I bought a McDonalds Double Cheeseburger for a stranger. In most cases, I am strongly against any type of handouts, so I’m still trying to figure out why this transpired. I had gone for a run during lunch, so perhaps elevated endorphins are to blame. Nevertheless, as I approached the McDonalds a man sitting on a milk crate holding a cup, presumably asking for change, instead asked me for a Double Cheeseburger. My modus operandi when asked for a handout consists of acknowledging the person and telling them no, or not today, or sorry. Again, in this case I deviated as I simply ignored him. As I opened the door, he told me to have a nice day.

Maybe I felt guilty for ignoring the guy or maybe it was the fact that I was planning on paying for my food with a Visa Gift Card that had $6.18 left on it, but I turned around, went back outside and verified the guy wanted a Double Cheeseburger. When it was time to order, I couldn’t find a Double Cheeseburger on the menu, only the McDouble on the $1 menu (2 beef patties and 1 slice of cheese), so I asked if they had a Double Cheeseburger and how much it was. They had it, $1.29; I bought one. As I headed towards the exit I saw someone else giving the guy a $1. Guess this guy had some extra mojo going for him today. For a brief moment I thought to myself, “this guy can buy a McDouble now, maybe I should give this Double Cheeseburger to someone else”, but ended up giving it to the guy anyway. He thanked me and again told me to have a nice day, this time with “more feeling”.