Small Defiances

I walked up to a panhandler at the 50th Street off-ramp and handed him a dollar; he thanked me, sounding startled and appreciative. I said, “No prob,” and walked away.

And as I walked on, I silently screamed: “F*** you! I defy you, ye gods of war and coin; I defy you, fates! One tiny act of compassion against a sea of troubles, but I’ll drain that sea with a thimble! This I choose, and you will not break me!”

Then I got on the bus.