Being kind is not always plain sailing. 26/11/2016

Years back there was a woman,who,if scrubbed,would have passed for 50,yet looked good 70.Day after day,come winter or summer,she walked the streets in smelly clothes,feet wrapped in old rags.Always in a hurry,never looking at any-one,pushing a shopping trolley.Whenever I saw her I looked at her with encouragement hoping she would respond.She never did.She ignored me as she ignored the world around her until one day we faced each other at traffic lights.Our eyes met, I smiled and trying to be as inconspicuous as I could,handed her £10.She looked at me with hatred and hissed-I am not a beggar,I don't want your money.I am so sorry,I didn't mean to insult you,I said, standing there rooted to the ground feeling embarrassed with passers by staring.For a long time after that I could not bring myself to give money to any beggar whether he/she asked for it or not. A good deed never goes unpunished,a friend would remind me whenever she saw me reaching for a purse.