When people surprise you for good.
I sat in my car, frustrated and freezing. I reluctantly reached for Ben’s puffy coat that is enormous on him– the one he had me leave in the car just in case I slid off the road and had to walk for help in the sub zero temperatures. Although that wasn’t the case at this moment, I was thankful he’d had the foresight as I was about to deal with the arctic blast outside my car sitting at the gas pump.
I breathed out loudly. Some things had frustrated me this morning- things beyond my control. As stupid as they were in reality, my perception at the time clouded it and I was gritting my teeth. Compounding the frustration was the fact ice froze over my tank and my car was on empty- I needed gas and couldn’t wait. I had already chipped away at the ice with my credit card, puffing white clouds in increasing tempo as my anger at everything built until I was so cold my shaking sent me back inside my car.
I pulled the puffy coat on and was lost in it, pushing up the sleeves so I could open the door. Ben had said to hit the lid to make it open and I felt like hitting something anyways. I got out of my car and walked around back to see an older man standing by my car. He was in thick carhart coveralls with a large coat with the hood pulled up over a knit hat. His aviators were bright in the sun and I was reflected in them. His face had thick lines on it and he was clean shaven. He nodded at me and I immediately understood he had noticed that I had needed help. I felt peace flood through my body in contrast to how I feel typically in these situations when I’m suspicious and wary of people and their intentions.
“How are you doing today?” he asked.
“I’m alright,” I said, and tried hard to smile.
He tilted his head, his eyes impossible to see. “Just alright?”
I smiled, suddenly blinking back tears from someplace I was unaware of.
He nodded in understanding. “Alright good or all right barely?” He smiled not needing an answer, “I understand.”
He hit my lid and asked me to go pull the gas lever again to see if it had jostled loose. It hadn’t. He tried again and again and it eventually worked. I slid out of my heated seat into the blast and shivered but was relieved I could actually pump my gas now.
He waved me back. “I’ll pump your gas for you, just sit in your warm car.”
Stunned, I stammered out, “are you sure?” confused and I tried to be suspicious. Because, you know. You can never really trust people. There were people all around and it was in the Sam’s Club parking lot. Again– I typically trust my intuition and everything felt good almost against my will.
He smiled and said he’d do it.
I watched in my rear view mirror, again, trying to be suspicious even in the presence of peace. He walked around when he was done and I opened my car door.
I thanked him profusely, in the way you can only thank people who you know have served you in an unique way.
He smiled perceptively. “Take care… and keep your chin up.”
I smiled, shut my door and drove away.