"Buy a Stranger a Coke"

So this past Wednesday I received an interesting assignment in my Management Communications class. The assignment was to "buy a stranger a coke" and then write about. So here I am writing about it. For some reason the first idea that managed it's way into my head was to buy a bum something. I'm not sure why but the idea didn't leave and I felt like that was a good way to go. After procrastinating until Saturday night I finally decided to get up and going and to get itdone. My first challenge was to find a homeless guy. I'd never hung out with or really noticed homeless guys much, so this proved to be my first challenge. I started to doubt believing it might just be easier to cop out and do something a little different. Despite my lack of faith, I headed over to the neighbors' for advice. I was informed that down on Center St. in Provo I could find plenty of bums, but to be careful. I admit I was a bit skeptical/nervous about the idea of buying a bum a coke beforehand and my fear increased. Faltering again I almost didn't make it out to get the job done. In the end I just decided to take off. My first stop came at 7 eleven. After coming to my senses I realized that wasn't the place I wanted to go if I wanted to go cheap. I ended up taking off to Smith's for my 2 liter bottle of Coke for only 95 cents. I figured that would go a lot further. By this time it was only getting darker and my nervousness only increasing. I was being a true wimp. At that point I made my 6 foot 1 inch 230 pound "little brother" come with me for a little moral support. Well, actually for some intimidation and protection to be completely honest. After retrieving him from heritage halls and tearing him away from his female friends we set course for Center St. down University Avenue. As I doubted the odds of finding a bum out and about were very good, lo and behold we found our man before even making our way downtown. While passing through the light at 500 N and University, I spotted a homeless man on foot making his way east across University Avenue in the direction of the library. We performed a quick u-turn and turned off the avenue before parking where we could get out and make the pursuit on foot. Leaving valuables in the car we took off and brought the coke to the homeless man. We told him we saw him and thought he might enjoy a coke. With a look of surprise he accepted with a huge appreciate smile, we knew we had made his night. I realized a coke may not have been the most nutritious thing we could have provided but that it would be enjoyable nonetheless. To explain further, I enjoy fulfilling assignments to the letter. To make a long story short we felt awesome, with that warm fuzzy feel good feeling, and wished him good luck, and then went on our way. With our mission accomplished and feeling good we headed back.