Disgusted

This past week, Wood and I were leaving the building in NF and it was dark, cold and icky outside. As we made our way down the little promenade, a guy in a hooded sweatshirt who appeared to have Turrets asked if we would help him. Having just watched a very moving special on TV about a month ago about kids with Turrets and the agony they suffer, I thought I would break my usual code of not helping begging strange people and help him. Wood wisely remained silent. Well all he said he wanted was money for a bus ticket back home. So I said ok, I know the bus station is at the end of the block here, we will walk with you and I will buy you a ticket. So we did, and he had all kinds of Turret like issues as we were walking the 1/8th mile or so down the dark and mostly deserted path. We get to where I thought the greyhound station was and discover it used to be there and now it is just a bus stop.... so we wait for the bus with him. I ask about how much the ticket would cost to get him home and he says about 10.50. I think ok, but am starting to have second thoughts about being in this part of town, in the dark and reaching into my purse to withdraw any amount of funds. Wood is still wisely quiet. (He is really good at letting me make my own mistakes) Anyway a bus comes - not his bus- but a bus, that will get him out of the cold and take him to the bus depot where he can get the bus he wants to get home. I had originally thought I would give him a $20, but at this point in time, Wood speaks up and says, do you have any singles BD? So I give the guy all my singles - he! counts all four of them disappointedly and we watch him get on the bus. I tell him that will be a start to get another ticket at the next station. For some reason as the bus is pulling away... I turn around and see that the lying bloke has gotten off the bus and is following us. I say what are you doing. He says - it wasn't enough money and it was the wrong bus. At this point I put up the Hand give him THE look and said, Don't even think about it! Wood and I walked away and got to the hotel safe and sound. (Now for those of you who are my children out there - I would NEVER have done this on my own....not to worrry ok? Anyway when we were safely ensconced in our very favorite Red Coach Inn, I said something to our favorite server, Dave, who has his psych degree and is now working on a Master's in Business. He goes OH NO!!! not the turret's guy, he is such a thief and is always working this area! he is very convincing and I was taken in by him once myself and on and on and on and he doesn't really have turrets he is perfectly healthy and on and on. So I don't know who I am more disgusted with. Myself for going against my usual hard hearted don't help begging strangers rule or this dude for taking advantage and LYING to me and making me less willing to help folks that may really need it in the future. Anyway you look at it though, I am disgusted.