
       ,,DON'T ,,?R[ ,,! ,,NICKEL
            0,K5NE? ,J]NIGAN

  ,:5 IS X APPROPRIATE =A BL P]SON
6A3EPT HELP F A SI<T$ P]SON1 & :5 IS X
N8 ,IF ! (F] IS REJECT$1 H[ C X 2 D"O
)\T CAUS+ EMB>RASS;T OR HURT FEEL+S8
,S9CE MO/ SI<T$ P >E WELL-4POS$ T[>D !
BL1 ^! >E V R1L "QS--"QS T ,I Z A BL
P]SON H FAC$ ALL ( MY LIFE4 ,Z Y MI<T
IMAG9E1 MY ANSW]S 6!M H *ANG$ Z ,I H
GR[N OLD] & GA9$ EXP]I;E4
  ,:5 ,I 0 A TE5-AG]1 FILL$ )! TYPICAL
SELF-3SCI\S;S ( ADOLESC;E1 ,I FREQU5TLY
RODE C;Y BUSES4 ,? 0 9 ,NA%VILLE1
,T5;SEE4 ,! S*OOL =! BL1 ": ,I 0 A
/UD5T1 0 LOCAT$ ON ! S\!RN $GE (! C;Y1 &
,I LIK$ 6G D[NT[N4 ,9CID5T,Y1 9 ^? "DS A
BUS RIDE CO/ A NICKEL1 Z DID A LOT ( O!R
?+S--A HAMBURG]1 A ,COCA ,COLA1 AN ORD]
( FR5* FRIES1 A FULL-SIZE C&Y B>1 A D\#-
DIP ( ICE CR1M1 & M* ELSE4
  ,B BACK 6! MATT] AT H&4 ,"O "D ,I 0
/&+ ON ! CORN] WAIT+ =A BUS :5 AN ELD]LY
WOMAN APPROA*$ ME & SD1 8,"H1 SON1 ,I'LL
HELP Y40 ,%E !N PUT A NICKEL 96MY H&4
  ,I CD TELL T %E 0 ELD]LY 2C ( H]
VOICE4 ,"! 0 Q A CR[D AT ! BUS /OP1 & ,I
FELT ACUTE EMB>RASS;T4 ,I TRI$ 6GIVE !
NICKEL BACK 6H]1 B %E MOV$ \ ( MY WAY &
KEPT SAY+1 8,NO1 T'S ALL "R40
  ,"EYBODY AT ! BUS /OP C1S$ TALK+1 & MY
FRU/R,N M.T$4 ,EA* "T ,I /EPP$ T[>D H]
6TRY 6GIVE BACK ! NICKEL1 %E MOV$ \ ( MY
WAY4 ,X M/ H BE5 Q A SPECTACLE1 ME ) MY
H& EXT5D$ HOLD+ ! NICKEL1 &! WOMAN W1V+
& DODG+ 6AVOID ME4 ,F9,Y1 9 ABSOLUTE
EXASP],N1 ,I ?REW ! NICKEL Z F> Z ,I CD
D[N ! /REET4
  ,T 0 OV] FIFTY YE>S AGO1 B ! MEMORY IS
/ CLE>4 ,ONCE ! WOMAN _H PLAC$ ! NICKEL
9 MY H&1 "! 0 RE,Y NO WAY ,I CD H GIV5 X
BACK4 ,IF ,I _H SIMPLY & QUIETLY A3EPT$
X & ?ANK$ H]1 V LL NOTICE WD H BE5 TAK54
,Z X WAS1 ,I CR1T$ Q A %[4 ,! ELD]LY
WOMAN1 :O 0 ONLY TRY+ 6HELP ME1 0
UND\BT$LY EMB>RASS$1 & ,I DID LL
6IMPROVE ! IMAGE ( BL;S4 ,9/1D1 ,I DID !
EXACT OPPOSITE4 ,ANY NO;NS ! GR\P AT !
BUS /OP _H AB ! HELP.S;S & IMMATUR;Y (!
BL 7 MAGNIFI$ & RE9=C$4
  ,T5 YE>S LAT]1 :5 ,I 0 9 MY TW5TIES1
,I 0 T1*+ AT ! ,CALI=NIA TRA9+ C5T] =!
BL 9 ! ,SAN ,FRANCISCO ,BAY >EA4 ,"O (
MY PR9CIPAL DUTIES 0 6HELP NEWLY BL
P]SONS LE>N H[ 6D1L MATURELY ) LOSS (
SI<T &! ATTITUDES (! PUBLIC AB BL;S4
  ,LATE "O AFN1 AF A "PICUL>LY H>D "D1
,I 0 L1V+ ! C5T] 6G HOME4 ,:5 ,I CAME 6!
CORN] 6CROSS ! /REET1 AN ELD]LY MAN 7HE
S.D$ Z IF HE MI<T 2 9 8 EI<TIES7
APPROA*$ ME & SD1 8,I'LL HELP Y ACR !
/REET40
  8,NO1 ?ANKS10 ,I SD4 8,I C MAKE X J
F9E40 ,I 0 POLITE B FIRM4
  8,I'LL HELP10 HE REP1T$1 & TOOK MY >M4
,Z ,I H ALR SD1 X _H BE5 A H>D "D4 ,I
MADE NO 4C\RTE\S RESPONSE1 B ,I SPE$$ UP
MY PACE Z WE CROSS$ ! /REET4
  ,CLE>LY ! MAN CD N KEEP UP1 & IF ,I AM
6BE H"O/1 ,I KNEW T HE CDN'T4 ,HE REL1S$
MY >M & SD )A HURT T"O1 8,I 0 ONLY TRY+
6HELP40
  ,:5 ,I GOT 6! O!R SIDE (! /REET1 ,I
CAME 6A -PLETE /OP & SD 6MYF1 8,>E Y
RE,Y S 9SECURE AB YR BL;S AF A H>D "D Y
C'T AF=D 6BE K9D 6"SBODY :O 0 ONLY TRY+
6HELP Y80
  ,Z )! NICKEL-?R[+ 9CID5T1 "! 0 A
LESSON 6BE LE>N$4 ,I %D H A3EPT$ ! MAN'S
(F] ( HELP1 & %D H D"O X GRACI\SLY4 ,WE
WD BO? H PR(IT$1 EA* FEEL+ T HE _H D"O !
O!R A K9D;S4 ,Z X WAS1 BO? ( U EXP]I;ED
PA91 EV5 IF ONLY A LL & EV5 IF ONLY
TEMPOR>ILY4
  ,0! "T ANO!R T5 YE>S _H PASS$1 ,I 0 9
MY ?IRTIES & DIRECT+ PROGRAMS =! BL 9 !
/ATE ( ,I[A4 ,MY JOB REQUIR$ ME 6D A GRT
D1L ( TRAVEL+1 & "O "D :5 ,I 0 *ECK+ 96A
HOTEL1 A BELLMAN C>RI$ MY BAG 6MY ROOM4
,Z HE 0 L1V+1 ,I GAVE HM A TIP4
  8,OH1 NO10 HE SD1 8,I CDN'T TAKE A TIP
F Y4 ,I'M A ,*RI/IAN40
  ,UNLIKE :AT ,I DID 9 ! O!R SITU,NS ,I
H DESCRIB$1 ,I DID N REFUSE OR RESI/4 ,I
SIMPLY ?ANK$ HM & LET X G AT T4 ,(
C\RSE1 ,I MI<T H TRI$ 6GET HM 6*ANGE 8
M9D1 B ,I DIDN'T ?9K X WD 2 PRODUCTIVE4
,& 2SS1 ,I DIDN'T FEEL S 9SECURE OR
UNSURE ( MYF T ,I NE$$ 6PROVE EI 6HM OR
ME T ,I 0 EQUAL4
  ,ON ANO!R O3A.N 9 ,I[A1 ,I 0 GIV+ A
TALK 6A ,SUN"D ,S*OOL CLASS1 & :5 ! "T
CAME = "QS1 A WOMAN SD3 8,H[ D Y HELP "O
( !M80 ,I ASSUM$ T %E 0 ASK+ ME :AT !
PROP] WAY 0 =A SI<T$ P]SON 6HELP A BL
P]SON1 B J 6MAKE SURE ,I ASK$ H]
6EXPLA94
  ,%E SD3 8,! O!R "D ,I TRI$ 6HELP A BL
MAN ACR ! /REET1 & HE %OOK MY H& (F ( 8
>M & TOLD ME 6G 6HELL40 ,I ASK$ H] :AT
%E WD H D"O IF A SI<T$ P]SON _H BE5 RUDE
6H]4
  ,I SD "S?+ 6? E6ECT3 8,Y %DN'T
HESITATE 6(F] HELP 6A BL P]SON 9 CROSS+
A /REET OR 9 ANY O!R WAY Y ?9K
APPROPRIATE4 ,AF ALL1 ! BL P]SON MAY NE$
YR HELP4 ,H[ >E Y 6"K IF Y DON'T ASK8
  ,:E!R ! HELP IS NE$$ OR N1 MO/ BL
P]SONS 7J Z WD 2 ! CASE ) MO/ SI<T$
P]SONS7 W APPRECIATE ! (F] & TR1T Y
C\RTE\SLY4 ,A FEW W 2 ILL-TEMP]$ OR
RUDE4 ,I WD SU7E/ T Y TR1T S* P EXACTLY
! WAY Y WD A SI<T$ P]SON :O IS RUDE 6Y4
,! MA9 ?+ IS N 6FEEL AWKW>D AB X4 ,IF Y
WOND] :E!R A BL P]SON NE$S HELP1 ASK4
,!N1 IF ! P]SON SAYS NO1 LET X G AT T4
  ,S F>1 ,I H TALK$ AB HELP T HAS BE5
C\RTE\SLY (F]$ & PROBABLY %D H BE5
A3EPT$4 ,B :AT AB ! O!R K9D8 ,BL P DON'T
H A MONOPOLY ON RUDE;S OR BAD MANN]S4
,SI<T$ P >E HUMAN1 TOO4
  ,I ?9K (A "T :5 ,I 0 /&+ ON A /REET
CORN] 9 ,DES ,MO9ES1 M9D+ MY [N BUSI;S &
WAIT+ =A FR4 ,A BIG HUSKY FELL[ )!
MO;TUM (A FREI<T TRA9 CAME AL;G & SCOOP$
ME UP )\T "E EV5 PAUS+4 8,-E ON1 BU4Y10
HE SD1 Z HE GRA2$ MY >M1 8,I'LL HELP Y
ACR ! /REET40
  ,Z X S HAPP5$1 ,I DIDN'T WANT 6CROSS T
/REET4 ,I 0 GO+ 9 ANO!R DIREC;N4 ,B HE
DIDN'T ASK4 ,& HE WDN'T LI/5 :5 ,I TRI$
6TELL HM4 ,HE J KEPT WALK+ & DRA7+ ME )
HM4
  ,9 ! CIRCUM/.ES1 ,I PLANT$ MY FEET &
RESI/$--& ,I %D H4 ,ALL ( U1 :E!R BL OR
SI<T$1 [E C\RTESY & 3SID],N 6EA* O!R1 &
9 ? CASE ,I 0 2+ TR1T$ L A N"O TOO
9TELLIG5T *4 ,NO1 WORSE ?AN T--= *N >E
R>ELY MANH&L$ 9 PUBLIC4
  ,N L;G AGO ,I 5T]$ AN ELEVATOR1 &A MAN
/&+ NEXT 6ME R1*$ \ & PLAC$ 8 H& ON MY
>M1 2T ME &! ELEVATOR DOOR1 9 A
PROTECTIVE MANN]4 ,HE PROBABLY FELT T ,I
MI<T L1N 96! DOOR Z X 0 CLOS+ OR T ,I
MI<T H DI6ICULTY :5 ! DOOR OP5$4 ,X 0 A
PROTECTIVE GE/URE1 TOT,Y 9APPROPRIATE B
M1NT 6BE HELP;L4 ,HE WD H BE5 %OCK$ AT !
?"\ ( 2HAV+ T WAY T[>D A SI<T$ ADULT
PASS5G]1 B 9 MY CASE HE SAW NO
IMPROPRIETY4
  ,:5 ! DOOR OP5$1 ! MAN RE/RA9$ ME ) 8
H& & SD1 8,WAIT4 ,Y C'T G YET40 ,S9CE ,I
0 /&+ IMMLY NEXT 6! DOOR & S9CE "! 0 NO
TRA6IC \TSIDE1 X IS H>D 6"K :Y HE FELT
,I %D WAIT4 ,MAYBE HE ?"\ ,I %D TAKE A
MO;T 6GET MY BE>+S1 OR MAYBE X 0 SIMPLY
M (! PROTECTIVE;S4 ,:O "KS8
  ,HE TR1T$ ME V M* Z HE WD H TR1T$ A
SMALL *4 ,H[ %D ,I H REACT$8 ,X ALL
DEP5DS ON H[ 9SI/5T & H[ OBTRUSIVE HE
WAS4 ,"! IS "S?+ 6BE SD = RE/RA9T & N
HURT+ O!R P'S FEEL+S1 B "! IS AL "S?+
6BE SD = RECOGNIZ+ :5 5 IS 5\<4
  ,9 :AT ,I AM AB 6SAY NEXT1 ,I AM N J
TALK+ AB P]SONS :O >E TOT,Y BL B AL AB
^? :O N[ SEE S POORLY T !Y _C FUNC;N !
WAY A SI<T$ P]SON DOES--P]SONS :O MAY 2
LOS+ SI<T & :O MAY 2 HAV+ TR\# A3EPT+ X4
,I AM AL SP1K+ 6RELATIVES4
  ,Z ,I H ALR 9DICAT$1 MO/ BL P
APPRECIATE HELP :5 X IS (F]$4 ,:5 A BL
P]SON IS WALK+ "? A CR[D OR D[N ! /REET
) "S"O ELSE & TRY+ 6C>RY ON A 3V]S,N1 X
IS EASI] 6TAKE ! O!R P]SON'S >M4 ,? IS
TRUE EV5 IF ! BL P]SON IS Q CAPA# (
TRAVEL+ AL"O4
  ,ALL ( U L 6D ?+S = \RVS1 B "! >E "TS
:5 REFUS+ 6TAKE AN >M T IS (F]$ 3/ITUTES
! V OPPOSITE ( 9DEP5D;E =A BL P]SON4
,IF1 = 9/.E1 A BL P]SON IS WALK+ )A
SI<T$ P]SON "? A CR[D$ RE/AURANT1 !
S5SI# ?+ 6D IS 6TAKE ! SI<T$ P]SON'S >M
& G 6! TA# )\T FUSS OR BO!R4
  ,Z W 2 SE51 MY VIEWS AB 9DEP5D;E &
HELP F O!RS H *ANG$ OV] ! YE>S4
,PROBABLY ! S+LE MO/ IMPORTANT FACTOR 9
HELP+ ME -E 6MY PRES5T NO;NS HAS BE5 !
,N,NAL ,F$],N (! ,BL4 ,HAV+ *APT]S 9 E
/ATE & ALM E -MUN;Y ( ANY SIZE1 ! ,F$],N
IS ! N,N'S OLDE/ & L>GE/ ORGANIZ,N ( BL
P]SONS4
  ,Z X IS ) ME1 S X IS ) ?\S&S ( O!R BL
P "?\T ! C.TRY4 ,WE "W TGR 6HELP EA* O!R
& \RVS4 ,WE GIVE ASSI/.E 6P>5TS ( BL *N1
6BL COLLEGE /UD5TS1 6! NEWLY BL1 & 6BL
P]SONS :O >E TRY+ 6F9D EMPLOY;T4 ,ABV
ALL1 ! ,F$],N T1*ES A NEW WAY ( ?"\ AB
BL;S4
  ,WE WANT 6TAKE ! MY/]Y \ ( BL;S4
,MO/LY1 WE :O >E BL >E V M* L Y4 ,WE "W
& PLAY1 HOPE & DR1M1 LAU< & CRY--J L Y4
,WE NE$ OPPORTUN;Y1 N P;Y4 ,& WE >E
WILL+ 6D = \RVS4 ,T DOESN'T M1N T WE
DON'T WANT OR NE$ HELP F \R SI<T$ FRS &
RELATIVES1 = WE D4 ,ALL ( U 7:E!R BL OR
N7 DEP5D ON EA* O!R & NE$ MUTUAL HELP &
ASSI/.E4
  ,? IS ! MESSAGE (! ,N,NAL ,F$],N (!
,BL1 & X HAS MADE A GRT DI6];E 9 MY
LIFE4 ,IF ,I _H 6SUM UP MY P]SONAL
PHILOSOPHY 9 A S+LE S5T;E1 X WD PROBABLY
2 ?3 ,D ALL Y C 6HELP YRF 2F Y CALL ON
O!RS2 TRY 6MAKE LIFE BETT] = ^? >.D Y2 &
DON'T ?R[ NICKELS4
























