Crazy drink, cheap wine

Sharlene escaped the hustle and bustle of new street station. She was safely at the crossing when a sharp hit was felt in her side and as she turned, an unshaven man mumbled closed lipped.
"Pardon?" Sharlene was trying to figure out whether the man before her had asked her for change or something else.
"Do you have 50p please i have lost my bus fare home and i need to get home 'cos my grlfriend is having a baby" He said, almost rehearsed.
"What 50p gets you on a bus? Im sorry i dont have any change i have just spent the last money i had at the toilets" No way was her hard earned cash goin to be given to what looked like a drug pushing vagrant. No she would decide to walk on by and pretend like he was not bothering her at all, like she did not care how he got home or whether in fact, he did have a girlfriend.

The man watched slowly as the women carried on ahaead. What was this world coming to. Dean had just spent the past 3 days trying to get home from Glasgow, where he stayed with his friend, had his wallet nicked from a group of all night ravers, and now looked a mess. An unshaven mess, who most people would not give a second glance to through fear of been mugged or attacked. Firt impressions are not always correct.
By day Dean was an insurance clerk and had decided to go to Glasgow to see his friend. His girlfriend who was 8 months pregnant, had asked him to go. He had not been apart from his beloved for over 10 months and now he was lost in Birmingham. If only 10 people could give him 50p then it would make his bus fare home to Telford. As he stood there deciding on his next 50p prey, Dean noticed the lady he had just asked walking towards him. Fear ran through him like electric, had she called the police? Was she goin to shout off at him, calling him a good for nothing. No she seemed to be smiling. But why? Why would she be smiling? she had just refused him money.

"Excuse me?" She asked, quivers running through her voice.
"Erm, yea" Dean dumbled as he was unsure of what her reason for coming back.
"Why are you homeless, I mean surely there is some sort of shelter for you people around here. Why do you have to ask people for money? Why do you always feel the need to stop innocent hard working citizens and ask them for their hard earned cash. 50p may not seem alot to you or anybody but do you realie how many minutes 50p is worth of working hours? Do You? Well answer me!"

He was horrified. How dare this women before him accuse him of not earning his way though life. After all the hard work that had been travelled in the past three days, Dean would like to see her do the same. No its people like her that would just quit and stick out there, til her posh hubby picked her up.
"Pardon? I am insurance clerk in Telford. My girlfriend is in labour as we speak. I have been on the road for 3 days solid and you stand there and decide that because of the way I am dressed I am no more than a drug pusher, a homeless man. What kind of person are you to not help one of her fellow people. Not even bother to question why I am dressed like this. I could understand if you would have just left me be, but no, you had to come along and hit me while im down. I was mugged and have travelled from Glasgow!"

Sharlene's mouth was now dribbling, which it often did when she was stunned to silence. Guilt overcome her, as a tear dropped from her eye. How could she? How could she let this poor man not get home to his partner? Who was having his baby.

"Have you spoke to your girlfriend?" She reached for her purse and drew out a crisp clean 20 pound note.
"No, I have had no money and no phone. The last time I spoke to her was back in Glasgow, when she went into labour. Her mother rang my mobile the night i went out, but the bastards took that too"

"Here, take this and please take my mobile number and let me know what happens"
Dean took the business card and the money. He couldnt beleive his luck, after 3 days of rough sleeping and travelling he was finally goin home to see his baby and his treasured girlfriend.

Sharlene, stood and watched the man walk off, how could she have let her judgement be clouded over by a persons appearance? She picked up her bag and hailed a taxi, she needed to get home fast. Her lovely boyfriend would be waiting for her with open arms.

THE END