I was recently watching a Tommy Sotomayor video in which he speaks about the overuse of the term applied to many a thug shot down by cops, whose friends all then say that, "He would have given you the shirt off his back."

As it turns out I have an old story—among 50 others—in an old word file, that does illustrate the possibility, even though it is oh so rarely an actuality.

"This was the worse experience eva. Was out on the street—on the corna. Was a young dude, real tight; bodybuildin,’ wearin’ tank top, headin’ home. This dude, olda than me, talla, walks up with his hand down behind and says, ‘Give me yo money niցցer.’

"I don’t like that word, and I didn’t see that he got anything, en I’m not given up ma money. I’m workin’ stock at the time; humpin’ freight for my cash—ain’t given ‘im shit. So I said, ‘No,’ and he swung this machete from behind—come overhead!

"I stepped back en put up the left arm and it bit into the wrist. Cut me good through the outside, halfway in. I went down to the side from the force en somebody was screamin’—a third party. So this dude runs, en still I got my cash. But I was pumpin’ dark—not bright—blood into the street, losin’ pressure. My skin was so tight at the time that it just peeled right back, as if you laid out some bread dough, slice it with a knife, en peel it back, just spreadin’ open.

"Then this dude—a street thug like me, olda guy, not the kinda guy you expect to help—pulls up, takes off his shirt, wraps it around, and says, ‘Apply pressure, and let me know if you start to pass out. No time ta wait for an ambulance, we got ta do it!’

He got me in this ride and flew through red lights ‘til he got me to the hospital. It took thirteen stitches on the outside and 14 stitches on the inside. That was a close call. He keeps in touch en checks on how I’m doin’. He was the kinda guy you wouldn’t expect to help no one. But he gave me the shirt off his back and saved my life.”

-Big Gus