Last night as we wandered around the K Street mall we were approached by a homeless man asking for change: I'm so depressed he said, holding out his hand.

And I didn't mean to sound so cynical after we walked away, but I couldn't help it: You're depressed? Stand in line buddy, stand in line.

And then, just outside the Cathedral. Another homeless guy asked for a dime.
Can you give me a dime? he asked, retreating before we even answered, all the time staring down at his forearm, clawing at it meekly with his other hand. The last woman I asked nearly ripped my head off.

What do you say to such things? What do you do? How far does your pocketful of change go? How much further should you take it?