Giving, guilt and the Beatles

He walks home after a long day at the lab. He looks forward to some well deserved rest. Its been a really long day at the lab. He still can't seem to get all the experiments out of his head. He's trying to think of why it isn't running quite right ... maybe it's the ... but then he stops himself. 

'Its time to head home, the experiments can wait till tomorrow',he thinks. 

He slips his had into his coat pockets, and he makes a mental note to remember to wear his woolen scarf before he sets out tomorrow. He reaches into his pocket and presses play on his new mp3 player. The song sounds familiar ... the beat ... it's a dead give away ... he smiles ... the Beatles ... its been a long time since that song has played.

He looks up. He sees a guy holding a folder. He tries to look away ... avoid eye-contact he says to himself. Too late ...

'What is it this time?', he thinks.

"Do you have a minute for ...", the guy says.

He hits pause. 'Can't really say no now, can I?', he thinks.

The guy begins reading of his sheet. 

"Do you know that ...", the guy begins. 

He rolls off a bunch of statistics, all read off the paper he's been carrying. It's his first day doing this, the guy apologetically explains. 

'He's about half done ... just a few more lines .... I know where this is going', he thinks. 

The cold winter breeze blows into his face. He puts his hands back in his coat pocket, waiting for the inevitable. He wonders how anyone can stand in the freezing cold, trying to convince a bunch of strangers to do something for their cause. He can't help admiring the guy's dedication. He wonders if he would be willing to do the same. 

'Almost done... wait for it ... wait for it,'he thinks.

"... and so the best way you can help out is by making a monthly donation to our cause...", the guy says.

He politely explains that he is a graduate student, and that making monthly donations is not something he can do right now. Deep down he feels a little guilty. 

'That money could make a difference, and I do think its an important issue', he thinks. 

But he shrugs it off quickly. 

'Maybe when I start earning', he thinks. 

The rationalization works. No guilt anymore. Pleasantries are exchanged. 

"Well have a nice day... thank you for your time", the guy says. 

"You too", he says. 

He can't help thinking that the guy sounded a little dejected. He starts walking away. 

'Maybe I should have contributed a little',he thinks. 

He almost turns back. Then just as quickly he decides that its time to move on ... no point worrying about it now.

'What's done is done ... I had a choice, and I made it', he thinks. 

He reaches down and hits play again. The familiar music fills his ears. He hears John Lennon crooning,

"I am he, as you are he, as you are me and we are all together ..."

He smiles.