COLUMNS

Sometimes life experiences put you in your place, he needed 69 cents

Michael Sumner

He needed 69 cents.

A recent morning I stopped at the Clara, Dunn & Armstrong Store, also known as CDA, and had a coffee and read The Gaston Gazette. No cell phone beeping just hard-working folks going to work, and I was enjoying one of Gastonia’s unique dining establishments.

The Choice/Sundrop truck was unloading and there were 10 cars already in the parking lot at 5:30. This spot is as unique to Gaston County as Tony’s, Blacks BBQ, RO’s, Schiele Museum, or Crowders Mountain. He needed 69 cents.

The menu is varied, and the employees know everyone who comes in and often while waiting for your food, you hear, “good morning, you want your usual?” The ladies not only take your order but cook it and work as hard as anyone I’ve ever seen in a restaurant.

There is an ATM in the front. Leave your credit cards, Apple pay at home. It is cash only. The CDA has an excellent number of drink selections, Sundrop seems to have the prime spots, and the best part is the customer service.

Now, if you are rude or a bit angry you might want to go McDonalds, these folks are not going to put up with too much nonsense. If you are quiet, you are polite or if you just feel like chatting, you have hit the jackpot. I suggest the bologna and egg, but the livermush and egg will hit the spot as well. He needed 69 cents.

Leaving, I noticed a young man in the parking lot counting change. Since the CDA is the only spot open so early in morning people linger in the lot. I walked by and smiled and said, “good morning.”

He seemed to be about my son’s age and had a speech impediment. He had something to say but was having trouble, so I waited. Finally, he says, “I need 69 cents for a sandwich, please sir.”

What grabbed me were his eyes they were so sad and desperate. My son, Pet, has made it a mission to help as many homeless folks as he can each day. Anyway, I could not speak or think as I grabbed what was left of a $20 bill in my pocket and said, “God bless you son” and he hurried into the store. He needed 69 cents.

What was important to me this morning was finishing a marketing plan and three video productions planned for the next six weeks. Payday is tomorrow and all business owners know that adds a touch of excitement.

I have an interview at 7:30 with a new intern and a slew of other items on my punch list but that all is aside now. I need to deal with this event.

This young man has made me take an honest look an evaluation of my priorities. My family, my faith, my work, my life, where do I slide and categorize this experience? How often do I ignore problems or refuse to look at them?

It is kind of like those heart wrenching videos on TV asking for donations for very worthy causes and that just send me, as fast as I can, to find the remote. If I do not see it or experience it, not my issue, not my problem. He needed 69 cents

I would invite you to drive early one morning to the parking lot at the Board of Elections at the corner of US 74/Franklin and Chester/U.S.321. Come before 6 a.m. and you will see many homeless including families with children peacefully sleeping under the awning.

They have pads, inflatable mattresses, sleeping bags, old and new blankets and it all seems so surreal. There is an ATM close, but to my knowledge there has never been a problem with customers using it.

My first reaction was “OK, the Gaston County Police Department is right next door. What is going on? This needs to be cleaned up.” Once again I thought what Pet would say, “Dad, where are they going to sleep? Who are they bothering? Why does this bother you so much? Are they hurting you?”

And as usual he is right, by 8:30 it is back to normal, and these folks seem to disappear. I asked an officer I know, and he told me they really are very peaceful and do not cause to many issues. The city recently spent millions of dollars on a new ballpark. Glad they did. It will help so many businesses and upgrade our image.

They have 50+ games a year. This makeshift homeless shelter is in the shadow of that state-of-the-art facility. Kind of makes you examine our priorities. He needed 69 cents.

I know many of you will say, “There are plenty of jobs, why can’t they get a job, save some of their money and get off the street.” Really?

A 30-year-old African-American man with little to no education or work experience and saddled with a severe speech impediment is going to get a job? Would you hire him? Would I hire him? We know the answer, so what we do is ignore him and feel good about ourselves when we are trapped and hand over some change.

We are certainly not spending enough money on housing, training, and helping to feed the homeless and their families. He needed 69 cents.

I have met and talked to several notable people in my life. Dr Margaret Meade, Gerald Ford, Sam Ervin, and countless great athletes. Meeting them, I guess was important, but this young man has moved me and changed and impacted me in a way I have never felt.

I encourage everyone to find someone who needs help. They are there at the CDA, on Franklin, at the homeless shelter or on the side of I-85. As my wife always tells me, “Do you really think they want to be out asking you for money?”

She is right, and I need to be more charitable because there are so many around that need that 69 cents.

Mike Sumner, who founded The Sumner Group, talks to the group in this Aug. 19, 2021, Gazette file photograph.

Michael Sumner is a resident of Cramerton.