Engaging the Hedgehog

I was riding my bicycle down Ankeny Street after seeing my friend Beth at City Bike Repairs when I passed an older black man ambling down the street. He called to me, "Hey, I'd like to ask you something." He looked sufficiently down and out to fit my criteria, so since I'm always looking for moments with engagement, especially with homeless people, I stopped to find out what he wanted. He looked at me with a bleary eye, swaying slightly in the breeze, exuding the unmistakable odor of alcohol. However, he looked friendly enough. He said, "Do you have fifteen cents? I need it to get on the bus."
"The bus costs a lot more than fifteen cents," I replied.
"Okay, a dollar then. Can I have a dollar?"
"A dollar isn't going to get you on the bus, either. The bus costs $1.65. Here, I'll give you a bus ticket." I started to rip a ticket out of my ticket book.
"No, I just want a dollar."
I sorted through my wallet through all the receipts and movie stubs and whatnot. I found a dollar and handed it to him. He took it.
He looked at me closely. "Are you giving this to me so you won't feel guilty?"
I laughed. That would be the last reason to give him money. The fact is I like giving away small amounts of money. It almost always leads to an interesting encounter. I love to talk to people and hear their stories, especiall if they are down and out. I also believe you will receive more of what you give away. This especially applies to love and money. But I didn't share my motivation with him so he moved on to the next subject.
"So where you goin'?"
I told him that I was on my way to a meeting.
"You going to a drug and alcohol meeting?"
"No, it's not a drug and alcohol meeting."
"So what kind of meeting is it?"
I was going to a therapy group for women with breast cancer, but this seemed like too much information for this context so I hesitated and he sensed my hesitation.
"So are you going to a ladie's meeting?"
Pretty good guess, I thought, and a pretty good way of putting it. "Yes, I'm going to a ladies meeting."
It was time for another subject. "I ain't never been with no white woman before," he said, touching my shoulder. "Would you take me home with you?"
I smiled and said, "I think my husband might object to that."
He grinned in agreement. "Yeah, he might not like that."
"Men are funny that way."
"You one wild woman," he said.
I laughed again and said,"I need to get to my ladie's meeting."
"Have a nice meeting," he said. I waved and rode off. It was a dollar well spent on my part. However, I don't imagine he will spend it as wisely. Still, that's really none of my business, is it?