




Moments later Jerry arrived with a pump borrowed from the shop. "They're really busy over there! We can fill your tire good enough to get you to the shop." He worked briskly to fill the tire, and then told us to follow his car.

I sat reading with the kids while a number of customers entered the shop. I kept hearing an apologetic voice behind the counter. "We're really backed up!" and "We can maybe work you in this afternoon." We'd only been sitting a short while before I was handed a bill. I felt a brief wave of worry that maybe this had been a big set up and I would be charged a ridiculous fee. But then I saw the total. $7.50. The tire could be repaired. (no digging for the spare!) I felt like I was in a Twilight Zone episode, stepping back in time to a small town with kind strangers.

Hopefully the waiter gave you the postcard when you came in the next time. I have a feeling I'm not the only person you have gone out of your way to help. (You had a bit of a guardian angel style about you!) You made me stop and appreciate kindness. But most of all you taught my kids that sometimes you don't have to buy help. There are people who give it.