The cost of a recession

My favorite neighborhood panhandler "J-Rock" was out in full force yesterday. He holds down fort consistently at a gas station I frequent. As I was filling up the tank, in full pizza delivery boy attire--magnetic sign visible on top of my car-- J-Rock sauntered over for the inevitable question. J-Rock has been asking me if he can borrow a dollar for the past ten years. Always a dollar, nothing more, nothing less. I never oblige. He usually has nicer stuff than mine. As he approached, I readied my usual barrage of comebacks (I never politely say no, I find it much more enjoyable to go on a spiel about some random reason for not giving him anything, it always ends with me reminding him that I have never and will never give me anything). Today though, J-Rock hit me with the unexpected: "Hey, can I ask you a question," (He always starts out this way, it's completely rhetorical, but it must be the opener that works best)--I always just stare back, not saying a word-- "Can I get 6 dollars." Six Bucks, who, in asks for Six Bucks. I garbled out a "Whaaaa." He just stood there, like it was totally normal, like he hadn't just upped his usual price 500%. Six bucks. wow. inflation, the recession, the war in Iraq, all of it, has officially trickled down to J-Rock's gas station. He got nothing, but I can't help but to wonder how many 6 dollar bills he got that day. I told him no in my usual fashion; he flipped me off, and we called it a draw.