In by this young man who rode his bike up my driveway and started talking to me while I cleaned our family car. I listened for about 5 seconds and barely dismissed the urge to ask what are you selling 'cause I don't need any. He told me he lived just around the corner (less than a mile away really). Ok- that's good because I almost always ask where the person lives when they canvass our neighborhood. I thought this kid (later I found out he's 22) was a poor salesman- his eyes were a bit red and he was not happy. He asked if I heard the news a bit back about a murder/suicide- and I had not- (I was away on the boat). He said it was his father who came over and shot his mother then killed himself immediately afterwards. Since then he's had help from the local catholic church where we go when we attend. He still lives in the house. He has two younger siblings. He has tried to get work and wanted to work around our house so he could buy some gas or food. He said he was hungry. He showed me the death certificates for his mom and dad. He showed me his drivers licenses with the address on it. He said he knocked on more than 40 doors and no one did anything and many were rude. His eyes were red because of the emotion of telling the story. I told him to wait outside and I went inside. I got a banana and a gatorade and $20. My wife asked what I was doing and looked thru the shades and saw the boy with red eyes and said if you give any money I will be so pissed off... he must be on drugs. The boy did not want the money without working for it- and I told him I have no work for him right now but I will in the future. He gave me his contact info. I gave him the money and other items. We talked for a few more minutes about life and God. My wife was still very pissed until I googled the info and found the news of the incident. This boy has fallen thru the cracks in society and I feel it's my responsibility to assist how I can. What would you have done?

Well done sir.

__________________
Just say "NO" to Ethanol - Drive Diesel

Mitchell Oates
Mooresville, NC
'87 300D 212K miles
'87 300D 151K miles - R.I.P. 12/08
'05 Jeep Liberty CRD 67K miles
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club

You owe no excuses to ANYONE.

"Trust but VERIFY" is a good path to follow, in romantic, chartitable, and business endeavors.

I think you did well.

The perp seems to have zealously exercised his 2nd Amendment rights here.

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

You have to help when you can, especially for those in truly desperate circumstances.

I recall turning around and depositing $5.00 to one of the many homeless folks that plod the streets of NYC in the winter. Most New Yorkers can just walk past these people without much of a thought while they run home to their heated apartments.

I can't.

It's not as easy to worship Ayn Rand after you meet someone who's been dealt a hand like that. I usually don't give to people who come to my door, but I also try not to be rude. I try to send them to our local Whiskey-Pagan church*, which has a community outreach program to help people like that.

* And, make a contribution to the church.

__________________
Remember, Safety Third!
'99 E300 Turbodiesel, '82 300TD, 1996 12V Cummins Turbo, '94 Neoplan - Detroit 6V92TA

I think you just found your handy man...even if you need to show him how to do the work. In doing so, you'll be teaching him a skill that will help in in his future endeavors. Teach this young man as much as you can, about everything...

__________________
1987 560SL
85,000 miles

"Trust but verify" is a good thing to practice. Determine his skill set and figure out a plan for him, if that's what you plan to do. Desperate times call for desperate measures from this boy's perspective, and I'm glad he came knocking on your door.

For now, food and money will help get him back on his feet. But for the future, teaching him additional things will allow him to be self-sufficient.

Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day...Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for lifetime.

__________________
1987 560SL
85,000 miles

Exactly.

Well done. I hope he is legit.

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

You've been given a gift. Do right by him.

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You're a daisy if you do.
__________________________________
84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

It appears you where not taken. You might have also with the gift directed him to other venues of help as well as the church. Perhaps the church will.

It is quite possible as he claimed to have knocked on the forty doors or so with not one soul helping. That is in a way kind of sad. The publics perceptions of scams over the years has really damaged things.

So before the Miami Dolphins game began I got in the car and went to his house but stopped and asked a man who was with his son if he knew about the story- he did but not much. He had helped a little he said. I spoke with three other neighbors and one said she had no time but asked I come over later as she had an appointment. Turns out she was a LEO. Two neighbors did not answer the door but were home. One was trying to help but the boy had moved a family into his house in order to save it but the family does not keep the house up and refuses to pay rent and the house is being foreclosed. The boy is trying but they said the crushing weight of the incident is doing just that- crushing the boy. Another neighbor said his wife would "save Jesus" if she could- meaning she is overly helpful. They had helped alot but the boy did not come over to mow the lawn when they asked, and had not responded when they had helped him twice get job interviews. This neighbor said the boy was most likely involved with drugs and they don't help him much anymore because of that. The boy (I'll call him John) moved in with his relatives but was (unruly?) kicked out by the uncle- but his younger siblings were still with the uncle's family.
I still will help when I can and do not view the drug use as a failure. John needs help and direction and mostly I think- a person to guide him and counsel him. I'm going to go back and talk with the two neighbors which seem to be the elders on the block to get more advice.

I don't think I was "taken" but it was a good thread title.

It sounds to me like the boy is asking for help, but has no direction. He sounds delicate at the moment, ready to crumble of handled with a heavy hand. Show the boy what it takes to be a man, and show him where and how to get the help. Don't give up on him...he sounds like a decent boy that needs direction and guidance, as you stated.

__________________
1987 560SL
85,000 miles

It's no surprise, consider the conditions he was raised in, and the event that put him in current circumstance, and what must be an incredible amount of stress he's in now. Also, do not be surprised if he fails to meet your expectations. Most people don't turn their lives around in an instant.

__________________
Remember, Safety Third!
'99 E300 Turbodiesel, '82 300TD, 1996 12V Cummins Turbo, '94 Neoplan - Detroit 6V92TA