the beggar

I go out, infrequently.  Today,  I was instructed to go have coffee in the valley.  I was at the table in reverie and a man with newspapers appeared over my right shoulder and asked for money.  My eyes locked with his and I let out an unfriendly, " NO."  My body felt calm yet my brain began to churn out thoughts.

Impulsively, I felt certain about saying no, but it was the tone that frustrated me.  I looked up and there was this large beggar standing over me.  My calm that I was so proud of had failed me, and my anger surprised me. My boss' text read, "Did you give?"  I responded, "no." His reply read, "Pass."  I walked to the castle, trying to clear my mind.  I thought of nothing