I saw that!!!

Ahno and Porque volunteer all over town, babysit grandkids, do projects, have far too much fun saying what they think.

Category: Local life

Say What???

May 08

8:03 PM

I just got back from running late errands and I’m feeling bad. Here’s what happened.

Going out the door, absorbed in checking my purse for keys and money, I heard a voice yelling, looked up. A large man approached from the other side of the street, moving fast. He carried a one-gallon gas can.

“Nee setty fie fuh gay,” he yelled at me. Partly, I was nervous because of his appearance. I couldn’t see his face, hidden way back inside the hood of a huge sweatshirt. The rest of him looked like a homeless person.

Although I didn‘t understand him, I concluded that he was trying to greet me in some way. I smiled and nodded, but stayed by my door on the porch.

He yelled the same thing again. Then he was at the foot of my porch steps. I began to panic. “Nee setty fie fuh gay!” he roared as though I were deaf.

I shouted back, “So sorry, I don’t understand.”

In tones of thunder he howled at me, “NEE. SETTY. FIE. FUH. GAY!!”

My mind whirled. Was he speaking a foreign language? Was this some deep south dialect? Did he have a speech impediment? What the hell was he saying?

Then, looking him over, I got it. He was telling me that he needed seventy-five cents for gasoline. Did I have the change? Yes. But I was afraid to give it to him.

I looked at him and thought, “Is this one of the more theatrically slick winos in my neighborhood?” Did he carry that gas can and demand a small amount from each patron so that after a while he’d be in a position to purchase a sack of forties?

Seeing me stand there like a dummy, he went his way toward the neighborhood gas station/ party store. Relieved, I went down the stairs and got into my car. A few minutes later, driving away, I felt remorseful to see him with his can at the gas pumps. He actually was getting gas…in spite of the fact that seventy-fi9ve cents wouldn’t buy more than a quick spurt from the pumps.

Coming home from my errands, feeling more and more like a mean person, I decided to track him down and give him enough for his next gallon of fossil fuel.

So there I was on a fool’s tour of Park Place in very late twilight. Up and down each street. I looked for that man. Was he pouring his one, small increment of gasoline into the tank of a car? Well, not that I saw.

So. I came home. I shouldn’t have been so distrustful. I should have believed him when I finally understood that he needed gasoline.

View 5 comment(s) Link to post

Good Thing He Didn't Ask Me

Submitted by carole59449 on Tue, 05/13/2008 at 4:37 pm.

I get very rude to people who presume to ask me for money by begging. I have seen more manipulation by such folks in my 30 years of working than genuine need. I am not going to change my ways, either. Usually if someone has a real street hustle, their need for you, some unknown person to them, is zero.

I know

Submitted by Dead Head on Tue, 05/13/2008 at 1:00 pm.

I have often bounced between wrenching heartache for those that suffer and a secret hatred for those I feel are trying to cash in on public generosity. The problem is that it’s often impossible to tell the difference between the two. I would like to offer two opinions – obviously worth less than a gallon of gas. 1. I have gotten a sense that, at times, your enormous capacity for giving has resulted in a great deal of negativity (being taken advantage of at your church, etc.) 2. Regardless of what a person’s financial or living situation, no one has the right to approach another with aggressive and/or physically intimidating tactics to get money. Such an approach negates all justification for charity – the world has simply become too dangerous – maybe it always was. Anyway – I always get a kick out of your blogs, so take care.

nee setty what???

Submitted by teriw69051 on Tue, 05/13/2008 at 10:04 am.

Yesterday I stopped off at my corner gas station, and there some lady begging people for change. Really strange woman. I didn't have any and didn't trust her anyways. So she cut in line and with her change bought 3 packs of cigarettes. She then proceeded to ask everyone in and outside of the store, even people people pumping gas, for a ride home. My thought was if she didn't buy 3 packs of cigarettes, she could have gotten on the bus or even called a cab. It's because of people who take advantage of others who think they're helping out is the reason that I don't give any money directly to people. I would rather give money to organizations who can distribute help to those who really need it.

NEE SETTY FIE FUH GAY!!

Submitted by contractorva on Tue, 05/13/2008 at 8:27 am.

"NEE SETTY FIE FUH GAY!!" I'm usually pretty good at deciphering this type of jargon. I think he should have said "CIN" should between "FIE" & "FUH". I'm fairly sure I would have figured it out immediately then. But in this case I had to read most of the article to figure it out. I suppose you could call it urban phonetics. I also make frequent trips to Kentucky & have heard similar diction there. Seems like a paltry amount for gas. Maybe going to mow a lawn to buy the 40's. I would also like to point out that I used spellcheck & none of the words as spelled & capitalized in this post registered as incorrect. lol..
PS......except my (lol)