[pipitous]

I just wanted to share this with you all...

Earlier today my two roommates and I drove out to a small plaza/mall area because we all had a few things we needed to pick up. When we were done shopping, my roommate drove us out of the parking lot.

I happened to glance to our left and I saw a girl holding a sign that said, "Broke and Hungry, Need Food." She looked to be in her 20's and had brown eyes, medium-length black hair, a denim jacket on, and a pair of pants that had several holes in it.

For just a moment we made eye contact, and she had the saddest look in her eyes I have ever seen in a human being. I could feel her sorrow in my own heart, in my soul even. It's all I could think about for the entire ride home. Her eyes were burned into my memory.

Once I got home, I just sat in my bedroom. I couldn't bring myself to do anything; All I could do was think about that poor girl, and how cold and hungry she must be. I knew what I had to do. I grabbed my keys and went back out to find her.

She was in the same spot she was when we drove by an half-hour before. I parked in a lot next to where she was, and walked over to her. I handed her $20 and some food and water that I bought on my way there, and in return she gave me the most sincere smile and Thank You I think I've ever seen, and she introduced herself as Jen. We crossed over to the parking lot where my car was parked, sat down on the curb, and began to talk.

Apparently she had come here and was going to live with a friend of hers who could get her a job. What happened, however was her friend lost his job and either moved away or lost his home as well. I'm not sure of the exact details but Jen ended up homeless and jobless as a result.

Once we got to talking, she turned out to be one of the sweetest girls I've ever met. She was grateful for the conversation, as she hadn't had someone to talk to in three days. She told me about all of the different places she's been and the different jobs she's held throughout her life. She's poured concrete, done roofing, and worked at several fast food restaurants. We also talked about video games she used to play growing up, and how she's a self-proclaimed Scrabble champion.

After an hour or so, we hugged and parted ways. We exchanged email addressed so we could keep in touch (she goes to libraries and uses the computers there.) She's going to be in town for the next few days, so I'll probably see her again before she leaves.

This whole experience really made me think. She went three days without anyone to talk to. That means nobody stopped to see if she was okay, if she had food or anything. Are people really this selfish? Do they really care so little about their fellow man? Jen is a wonderful person who's just fallen on hard times. It makes me wish people in general would be more caring towards their fellow human beings.