I hate beggars (a story)

Yesterday at work I was cheerfully stirring the choc dip, when a group of girls in school uniform came up to the counter.
Oh goody, thought I. They are customers.
The girl at the fore of the group asked me “Can I have a free scoop?”
Oh, thought I. Very amusing.
“No…?” said I.
“Give me something for free?” the girl said again, with huge puppy eyes.
I ignored her, which normally works when stupid people think they’re being funny.
“Haven’t you got anything that’s free?” asked the girl, seemingly oblivious to my struggle to hold back snark. People traditionally pay for goods and services, I wanted to say. Even primitive people have bartering systems. Even the homeless sell the Big Issue instead of begging.
“Is this one of those jokes where I say ‘Sure, you can have something’, and you say ‘Ho ho, I was just joking. I’ll really buy something now.’ Ha ha, very amusing?”
“Nuh,” she said, unaffected. “Can you give me something?”
“No,” I said. “Why don’t you try Japan Crepe or NZ Natural?”
“Do you think they’ll give it to me?”
“You could always try.”
I just wanted her to go away. But she just stood there. Every few seconds she’d say “please” and try to look as sad as possible. I then busied myself with trying to separate the sprinkles into different colour groups so I wouldn’t have to look at her.
“Just give me one scoop of Cookie Cream,” said she.
At least know what you’re begging for, damn you! It’s Cookies AND Cream. I ignored her for several minutes more. Finally, she turned away.
“You’re slack,” she said.

Afterwards I came home and cried until my lacrimal ducts were raw and bloody. It really hurts that she called me that. I really sympathised with her but the laws of commerce prevented me from helping. I mean, I can see her point. I’d much rather grovel and demean myself than go without icecream. How dare people like me deny her, especially when she said please! Her money goes to vitally important things like hair dye and eyeliner. A helluva lot of hair dye and eyeliner. How can I expect her to cough up $2 for icecream?

I truly am a bad person.