My Bad

Though I don't take in stray animals into my house, I consider myself a sucker when it comes to people who claim to need help. Growing up in Lagos may have hardened me to 'beggars', but not to friends and family. Those who do what Lagosians call 'fine bara',only waste their sob stories on me. Those who claim to be blind, I look at straight in the eye, they never expect it so for a very brief period, the pretenders hold my gaze and then either close their eyes or look elsewhere. Those who claim to be deaf and dumb always seem to know what I mean when I ask them if they have change despite that I do not bring out any money. For over a year, I watched a particular 'blind man' 'resume work' at the same spot every weekday in Iyana-Ipaja. As I joined the morning traffic, he would come to the same spot by himself, set down his alms bowl and recite prayers. By himself. I don't pity them, it a profession; not even now that the government has promised to fine me if I'm caught indulging them.
When it comes to my friends though, or even other people's friends, I don't consider it sob stories, I consider it that this person is not able to bear the issue(s) any longer, that is why they are speaking out. Sometimes my brain warns me that this person is not asking for help, this person just wants a listening ear and I promise to take note but I forget, offer suggestions and advice then feel bad that this person is rejecting it. It does not happen all the time but when it does, I feel awkward. I feel dumb. The one that's prompting this essay is particularly bad in that this person then turned back to literally accuse me of trying to trip them up. I was shocked but I only said a 'my bad' and shut up. Which is what I should have done in the first place.