Random acts of kindness to strangers

I was on a bus last year when I teenage girl boarded the bus on her way to school, turns out she 40p short for her bus fare, the bus driver was having none of it and even though she was trying to explain that she was one her way to school for an exam and couldn't be late he still wouldn't let her on despite the fact that by now she was obviously getting quite upset, so I went and paid the 40p so she could get to school for her exam , something that I like to think could have altered her course in life, if she didn't get to that exam she would have failed, might not have got to the college she wanted and might never have got the job she wanted. Then again my act of kindness might have made no difference what so ever, but I'll never know that, at least I felt good helping someone out

 

Saying that, Bilbo (and I think what you did was wonderful!) takes me back in time to when a RAK was shown to me.

I used to work evenings and weekends at our local theatre, while I was still at school. One night, I just didn't feel *right*; in fact, I felt downright awful!! The "work ethic" was so ingrained in me by my parents that I was determined to finish my shift. After the performance, it was regular practise (and for us, a duty) to gather in the bar with the actors/actresses; they would often by us a drink as a thank you and my "tipple" was St Clements, but even that was impossible to drink as it felt as though my throat was being ripped apart by acid.

One of the actors, a kindly sole, called "Michael", could see something was wrong and offered to pay for a taxi home for me. I had no idea how much a taxi would cost (they were luxuries in those days) and I think he must have given me a pound? (RAK #1). He ordered the taxi and in I got. However, being mindful I only had a limited amount of money, I kept a keen eye on the meter; the moment it neared my limit, I asked the taxi driver to stop and drop me off there and then!

He looked at me in his rear view mirror (I can only assume I looked, and sounded, dreadful) and said: "No chance! I've a daughter around your age and I'm taking you to your door!"

"But, I don't have enough money from here!"

"So? I'll turn the meter off " (RAK #2)

I almost wept in gratitude. I arrived home, safe, sound and very grateful.

What neither Michael, or the taxi driver, would never have known was: during the night, I became dilerious with fever, the emergency Dr had to be called by my deeply worried mother (and, trust me, she was as tough as old boots and from a generation where the mere thought of calling a Dr drew upon memories of having to pay! As a widower with 5 children, that was a very worrying thought for her).

I have never, ever, forgotten the kindess, compassion, generosity and care shown to me that night by two men (and bear in mind, being a teenage girl the over riding advice was always: "Beware of strange men offering you something!" )

Never saw either of them again; pity, because I would have loved to have said a big, fat, "thank you!".

 

It's just a shame that nobody did it for this poor girl who was 20p short of her fare

 

That is just: sickening! But, do we blame/guilt trip, the bus driver? The fellow passengers? The victim for not going to the cashpoint in the first place? No!!! We blame the perpetrator! And, rightly so: hindsight is 20/20 vision.

 

And you wonder why a parent cannot sleep until they know their lass is safely home. It really angers me to read of such scum being still able to anticipate being freed IDC. Not if I had my way,
Jenny namaste

 

I prefer to dwell on my own "fortune"/experience and put my faith in the goodness of human nature (which is the majority) than the depravity of a very small minority!

This thread has shown men of character, humility, compassion, sensitivity, generosity and kindness: those are the kind of people I place my sense of human kindness in - and am grateful for!

The real "sadness" comes, from an inability, for many, to distinguish between either kind.

Just imagine, for a moment, some of the men whose kindess posted on here, which has been given freely, maybe naively yet, ultimately, genuinely; and to great effect! Consider how that may be misinterpreted by the cynical, skeptical, fearful, paranoid? Innocent, genuine people would be arrested, without a thought, just to satisfy those cynical, skeptical, fearful, paranoid and anxious others. Imagine the humiliation, degradation and shock a genuine person would feel, if arrested on suspicion of "depravity", based on nowt more than a genuine care and concern for a fellow human being? To those of a less than savoury motivation, they wouldn't care!

At which point do honest men become disuaded from being "honest" men in fear of being labelled, "dishonest" men???

As I highlighed in a previous post; despite all the warnings of "teen girl/shouldn't speak to strangers", I trusted the men who were responsible for my well being that night. I was fortunate. I trusted my instincts.

I won't devalue the honorable postings on this thread of well meaning gentlemen by comparing them to the news item you have posted; it bears no comparison to RAK!

 

Saturday my DS was out with friends, he in his wheelchair, friends on foot, so DS was quite some distance in front, he hit the curb at the wrong angle and tipped, however because he was using the lap belt his chair went with him, so my son is on the floor, bleeding and unable to free himself of his chair, a gentleman who was passing in his car, pulled up and helped DS back upright and made sure he was ok, DS is 19 so he is not a light weight to lift and help.
Its a shame I never got a chance to let this gentleman know just how much his help meant to me and my DS.

 

Makes me feel good - just reading this Sparra. Hope your DS was able to continue and enjoy his evening.
And well done that GOOD SAMARITAN,
Jenny

 

DS was fine Jenny, few cuts and bruises but totally mended now

Yes, very much a GOOD SAMARITAN