The New Year's Present

FOR five years I've sat behind this desk and I can't remember a week without someone coming in off the street WANTING! Wanting car-care, a meal, groceries, clothing; one drunk even wanted a prayer! All had the most plausible reasons: "My mother is sick, needs drugs; I have no money. I've been in prison, just got a job and need to be staked until Friday when I get paid. . ." etc.