About 15 years ago, I was working downtown Boston as a caterer in Post Office Square for this swanky racquet club. My normal hours were Mon thru Fri from 6a-4p. I used to take the bus, and would use my bus pass.

One night, xmas eve, I worked until 11pm. I left the club and started walking towards the bus. It hit me as fast as the cold. "CRAP! No bus this late!" It was about 20 degrees and windy. There was a slight snow wafting under my coat collar. I had no way of getting home.

The Boston T is famous for not giving a shit about the populous and I knew they would NOT accept my bus pass. It was 14 mile walk to my house. I decided to go plead / bleed / give a hummer to whomever was working the T box on xmas eve.

I get maybe 2 blocks away from the club and the cold starts to work its way into my bones. All of a sudden, two homeless dudes walk up to me stemming for change. yay.
"Hey man, got any cash?" I said "Nope! I don't even have cash to get on the damn T sorry"..

They just sort of stare at me with a blank expression.

One of the dudes reaches in his pocked and comes out with a handful of coins. He drops them in my hand and says "Go home and be with your family, man". I asked his name and he said "Flash" with a grin.

I gave him all but 85 cents back and started walking towards the T. His friend says "Now you won't think we're all bums, man" Flash says "I ain't no bum. I'm homeless".

I get home to bickering and blathering and was pretty goddam grateful for Flash and his friend.