Julio Diaz, a 31-year-old social worker, was robbed one night at knifepoint by a teen at a subway stop near his home in the Bronx. The rest of the story diverges from what typically occurs. After handing over his wallet, Diaz told the teenage boy:
"Hey, wait a minute. You forgot something. If you're going to be robbing people for the rest of the night, you might as well take my coat to keep you warm."The would-be robber looked at his would-be victim, "like what's going on here?" Diaz says. "He asked me, 'Why are you doing this?'"
Diaz replied: "If you're willing to risk your freedom for a few dollars, then I guess you must really need the money. I mean, all I wanted to do was get dinner and if you really want to join me ... hey, you're more than welcome.
"You know, I just felt maybe he really needs help," Diaz says.
Diaz says he and the teen went into the diner and sat in a booth.
Rest of NPR story here. It reminds me of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books that my parents used to get when I was younger and that I may or may not have read from front to back. In retrospect some of those stories sounded a little too good to be true. You know what those stories needed?
