Marlborough's are $5.20 a pack

I see him all the time.

That's not true, but I do see him frequently. He's on the way from where I am during the day and where I go after work.

That's not true either he's on my way to the ATM that doesn't charge me a fee, that is near to where I go after work. He's also on the way if I walk up the back street from the bar to the subway.

I don't know if he's homeless or just a beggar. He usually has a sign. The one I liked best read "Need a hooker and a case of beer" he said the cops made him get rid of it. The sign he has now reads "I want a case of beer and a black eye from some brunette."

I fancy brunettes, too.

I don't know if he notices me or not. Sometimes I'll toss him a buck.

"Hey buddy, do you have a smoke?"

"Sorry. I don't smoke." I replied without missing a step but then I turned around. "But do you know what? I'll get you a pack. What do you smoke?"

He told me that he smokes Marlborough or Newports. I don't smoke but I thought the difference was like between a Sam Adams and a Bud Light. I walked half a block around the corner to the 7 Eleven and bought him Marlboroughs.

"Here you go." I said as I passed him down the smokes and a pack of matches.

"I thought you were kidding"

"Naw. Why would I do that?"

"I don't know. A lot of people like to mess with me."

I lost a little bit of faith in human nature after I heard him say that even though I know the Financial District crowd isn't really keen on beggars, even though he told me something I already knew. The guy isn't much of a bother. He makes his request and politely accepts any answer he's given. And when he says "Have a nice day," he doesn't say it snidely.

Just because he reminds folks of things that don't want to be reminded of doesn't mean he should get more of a hard time, or at least that is what I think.