Photo by Rick Gush
As a teenager , in a struggle to make last meet , I used materials like these to clean sidewalks in exchange for contribution . I used the money I garner to buy work clothes for a farm job .
When I was 19 years old , I found myself in a foreign city with absolutely no money . I set for a spot to catch some Z’s in a half - abandon chicken coop on the fringe of township , but finding something to eat was a more difficult task . I did have a torch and figured out that I could go out at night and steal a few vegetables from some of the big champaign and private veg garden . But then the flashlight battery exhausted , and I had no money to corrupt new ones .
hold up in the chicken coop was an risky venture . I had my mound strung up from one bulwark to the other , and that was fairly comfortable . The dozen half - furious chickens did n’t mind my presence at all . They seemed to enjoy perching on the ropes that held up my hammock and sleep there while I sleep . regrettably , when I had to get up in the middle of the night for a bathroom break , the hillock ropes would go die away and all the chickens would come off , with pot of squawking and click to carry their displeasure with their inconsiderate roommate .
A friend of mine in a similar post suggested that I come along with him into town and beg for redundant change . Desperate , I reluctantly agreed . I stood on the pavement for a few minute with my hand out and managed to get enough money to buy batteries and more , but I hat begging . At the end of that first sidereal day , I spent the eternal rest of my meager coins on a little whisk broom broom and a knife from a 2d - paw shop .
The next solar day I went back into town , to the same corner where I had begged the day before , and started clean the gum and crud off the sidewalk . I made a little cardboard sign that said : “ I ’m ferment for you and will appreciate any avail . ” I process for four hours on the sidewalk and made about five clock time the money that I had the day before . Many people thanked me for cleaning the pavement . I go back every Clarence Day for a calendar week and cope to make clean the sidewalk on almost the whole block , and I made enough money to buy the boots and all that I needed to get a real job at a local farm .
Today , I saw a few beggar on the streets in downtown Rapallo , Italy . We get a lot of illegal immigrant from Africa and Eastern Europe tap on the street during the tourist time of year . Remembering my own experience , I went to the hardware store , purchase a few supply ( for less than five euros ) , made a slight foretoken and chip in it all to one of the guys begging on the street . The prank worked for himm , too , and when I went back an hour later he tell me he had already made more money that he had in the previous two days . He also mention that clean the sidewalk was actually a mickle more interesting than just remain firm around with one ’s hand held out .
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