Well James, just because the young guy bought the older guy some food does not necessarily make your first thought wrong. Also, maybe he see the woman with the girl everyday and is trying to get to know her.
That said, your later reassessment is likely correct.
Now personally, I have two memories.
First I was having lunch in a park, sitting in my car eating a sub one summer day, years ago.
I saw this woman and, I assume her daughter, searching the garbage. It hit me that she is looking for food. I think about the car I am in and the sub I am eating. I get out and walk over and ask her if she would like something to eat. When I spoke up she took a protective stance in front of her daughter. She looked over at the car for a second and said no. Her daughter said 'Mommy ?' in that questioning tone. The mother whispered something back to her, the girl looked at me.
I said if you wait here I will bring something back. She just stared, as if she was thinking 'yeah what will it cost me ?'.
I went back to Mr Sub and got two assorteds.
She really looked surprised when I returned. She asked 'what do you want in return ?'. I smiled nothing. The little girl sat down and started eating the mother ... she both did and did not want to stop her. She gave in herself and started eating.
We talked, she lost her job about 18 month prior, savings went fast, and no one, government, friends nor family could/would help.
I did what I could at the time.
About 15 years ago I was heading to Northern Ontario to visit family. I stopped to get something to eat. As I was walking to my car I heard "What am I going to do ! .... FUCK YOU !" I looked over in time to see a young woman slam a pay phone down and stomp over to a picnic table. Now in my car I watched. Started the car drove over, she was near the entrance to the highway. I heard her crying. I asked her if she needed a ride, thinking about what she screamed into the phone. She yelled "NO ! Leave me alone."
I told her I am going north as far as North Bay so it is no problem if you need a ride or something.
She jumped up and said "Might as well let you fuck me too." and walked past me. I thought she was going to go in the restaurant, but to my surprise she got in the car and slammed the door. It was then that I thought 'what the fuck have you got yourself into'.
I drove for 20 minutes before she broke the ice. In a low voice "I'm sorry for yelling back there.", I told her not to worry about it. We talked, I asked her what happened. She just lost her job for being late, her boyfriend was being an ass. They had a fight and he intentionally dropped her at work a couple hours late. The manager got there a few hours later and fired her. Boyfriend would not come get her and manager would not give her any money for a cab. She cried a bit when telling me about her past few years. She said she is not from Ontario. Her first few years here were great until she met the idiot boyfriend, that is when things started to go bad. I said "Yes. Us guys can be idiots sometimes." Finally, a smile, then a little giggle.
We got to her place. I asked what are you going to do ? Will you be alright tonight ? She said I have no choice. No job, no where else to go. I put the car in gear and went back to the motel I passed. I said I can maybe get you three nights here. I did not want to use a card so they wanted $100 in-case of damage. I told them to give her the $100 after the three days. We went out and I told her I had to get going. She looked kind of surprised and asked in a sort of stutter ' you are not coming in ?'. I told her I really have to get going. She said "I though ..." her voice trailed off. Told her 'I cannot take advantage of you'. When she asked why I did what I did for her. I replied 'balance'.
I said as I began to leave 'if you want to do something to pay this back' I pointed to a sign in the window of the office of the motel 'Cleaning person wanted' get that job. I smiled and walked to my car. I heard her running up behind me. I turned, she had tears in her eyes, she hugged me and whispered in my ear.
When she broke the hug she said "I will get that job", I said I believe her, wished her good luck.
I was back on the highway in a few minutes.
