“Hey man, you got any change?” I hardly even notice the grimy homeless man with his hand out as I walk past him on Guad. I’ve grown so accustomed to the street beggars that they’ve merely become a part of the background noise of Austin, along with the car horns and people handing out flyers. Though we have no idea what circumstances led these people to a life on the streets, we tend to suspect the worst in their intentions and keep our money. Suddenly a young Middle Eastern man approaches the beggar, holding a brown paper bag. “Here,” he says, “I bought you a gyro.” The homeless man looked taken aback, as if offended. “I’m not eating this garbage!” Wow. I guess beggars can be choosers.

homeless man from google images