I often find myself shaking my head when I think about my son, Darius. He has a heart of gold, but sometimes that heart is far too soft when it comes to people who know how to exploit kindness. It’s almost as if the moment someone approaches him, the word “easy” is written across his forehead.
The "Just a Coca-Cola" Incident
One story Darius shared from his trip to Chicago still haunts me. He had just gone for a run and wanted a quick bite at Subway. With his headphones in, he expected nothing more than a normal meal.
Then a woman approached. “Can you help me buy a Coca-Cola? I’m just a little short on money,” she told him.
Darius removed his headphones and agreed to help. But when he handed the cashier the money, the truth came out. The cashier said, “No, that’s not true. She hasn’t paid a single cent. She ordered a sandwich, chips, extra bacon…”
The total came to $13—far more than just a drink. And yet, Darius paid anyway. To make matters worse, the woman walked out with a group of friends, likely all part of the scam.
“I completely lost my appetite after that,” Darius admitted.
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Atlanta’s Streets and Scammers
The scams didn’t end in Chicago. On a trip to Atlanta, he faced one of his worst days ever. In just two hours, he encountered:
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A pregnant woman smoking a cigarette, asking for money
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Another woman attempting to “flirt” her way into getting his phone number
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Someone trying to sell him a wig
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And countless other schemes
“I’m never going back to Atlanta,” Darius said. “I’ll stick to the countryside. No one’s catching me there again. I’m never stepping foot in that subway station again.”
Strangers and Cash App Requests
Then came the Cash App incident. A stranger asked him, “Can you send me $30 through Cash App?”
I asked what he said.
Darius tried to justify it: “No, Mom, it was just $2… I sent it because it seemed reasonable. She looked like she was struggling.”
A Mother’s Guidance
Hearing these stories fills me with worry. I told Darius, “You have to stop saying ‘yes’ to every stranger. Sometimes it’s a trap.”
I’ve tried to teach him to protect himself:
“You need to learn how to spot warning signs. I’m from Chicago—I know all these scams. You don’t, and I’m trying to show you that you can’t let people take advantage of your kindness.”
I even shared practical strategies:
“When someone is hustling you, leave the area. Talk to yourself loudly so they think you’re a little off. Say, ‘Hey, hey, hello,’ and keep walking. Or tell them, ‘Sorry, I have to use the bathroom,’ and get out of there fast.”
The Reality of Kindness
Even though I worry, part of me is proud of Darius’s compassionate heart. But in this world, kindness must be paired with awareness.
“I know when to give and when not to,” I told him. “With experience, you’ll learn to trust your instincts. Your internal alarms will go off when something isn’t right.”
I hope that one day, Darius will find that balance—keeping his kind, generous heart intact, while also being wise enough not to become an easy target in a world that doesn’t always return the same kindness he gives.
