A Helping Hand

She had been bleeding all day. She was my good friend and closest professional colleague at the time –back in the 70’s. It had been her first day back at work after some surgery and I guess she should have taken a few more days to recover.

As soon as work was over, she and I headed to the emergency room and spent hours there waiting to be seen. Once I got her settled, I had to leave her in my apartment while I dashed off to take a final exam for a very important evening class I was taking. Upon my return, we decided Liz was in good enough shape to sustain a trip back from my Northern Virginia apartment to her home in Maryland.

It was nearly midnight and we were both exhausted. Once on the highway, in a not particularly safe part of town, we heard my car make a funny noise, and then it was shaking violently as we drove along. Quickly, I pulled off to the shoulder and determined a tire had blown out. Never having changed a tire before, I went about trying to figure out what to do next. Liz, weak from losing all that blood all day and weighing only about eighty pounds to begin with, hopped out try and help me. I had to scream at her to get back in the car and relax.

Within seconds, a taxi pulled up behind us and a huge man emerged and began walking toward us. I am certain the blood drained out of my face and I nearly fainted in fear. “Got a flat there girls?” In no time at all, this kind person had changed my tire and rushed off back to his taxi. He refused any payment and would not even tell me his name. He will never know the extent of how badly we needed his services that particular evening but I, for one, will never forget his kindness.