In Search of a Homeless Man . . . Again

So yes, it happened again: I lost a man on the side of the freeway.

You see, today, I was exiting the freeway en route to my momma's house, when I saw an unkempt, disheveled middle-aged man posted on the left side. He carried a sign that read Homeless, Please Help (in initial caps). I looked around the car for food, gloves, or anything that might help this poor man's situation.

Once a long time ago, I had this very same dilemma, and I resolved it by heading to the local fast food restaurant to get a hot meal for the fella. Only when I returned, the man was nowhere to be found and I was left with an extra meal that I didn't necessarily want.

What are the odds of that happening again, I think. I shouldn't punish this man for what happened once before: I'm getting this man a hot meal. I mean, he's in shorts on a cold day, and that poor little puppy of his must be freezing.

If you don't already know where this story is going, then you're just as clueless as I was trying to deliver the hot food I just bought. I went back to the freeway exit and he was not there. Where the hell could he be, I thought. I drove a little further. Nope. I circulated the other entrances and exits. No sign. Where could he be?

I had been abandoned again! Surely in this Inland Empire area, I'd be sure to find him, or anyone who could need a damn combination burrito.

2 miles later, I was at mom's, walking in with two hot bags of food. I reluctantly ate part of his burrito, but only because I didn't want it to go to waste. :(

My only hope is that my freeway friend had someone else spread their Christmas cheer to this man, and that he did indeed get some food for him and his pup.