Spare Change

Yesterday on my way to a book signing a saw two homeless people, a woman and a man. The man had a paper cup and was holding it out in front of his body while the woman held back a bit and smoked a cigarette.

They asked a couple for spare change, the couple denied. "Have a nice day," the homeless man said to them.

As I walked by, the homeless man smiled at me and held out the cup. "Any spare change miss?"

Before I could reply the homeless woman stepped up and scolded him, "not her, you idiot!"

"Well, sorry. How am I supposed to know?" he shot back.

I walked away pretty confused, and then perhaps a bit too introspective. How poor do I look?