Never, not even in her wildest dreams, did Tara assume that the night shift at the gas station during a stormy night would change her life forever. As she was contemplating her life choices and pondered over the thought that she could graduate from the university and became a journalist had it not been for the troubles that stood on her way and her ailing mother she needed to care for, Tara heard a voice say, “Please, oh please…”
As she was seated behind the counter, Tara quickly stood up and noticed an elderly woman all covered in dirt, oil, and mud.
“Ma’am?” Tara gasped. “I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you come in!”
“Please,” the woman kept saying, “I need your help…”
“Oh I’ll just bet you do!” a masculine voice interrupted the scared lady. It was Tara’s boss, Mr. Anderson, the service station’s night manager who probably heard the elderly lady entering the store from the office at the back where he spent the nights going through a bunch of dubious sites.
“I’ve had enough of you derelicts walking in cadging hot food and coffee every time it rains.” Mr. Anderson shouted. “Get out!”
“Please,” the woman said in a calmer voice, “I need help, my phone is smashed…”
“Help?” sneered Mr. Anderson. “Did you drive here? Do you need gas? Or motor oil? Do you have money or a credit card?”
“No,” the woman said. “You don’t understand…”
“I understand you just fine,” the manager shouted. “Get out! No car and no money, you get nothing!”
Putting her head into her shaking hands, the woman explained, “My husband and I had a car accident, he’s lying unconscious on the road…All I ask is that you make a phone call!”
Tara said she would call the emergency services, but as she tried dialing 911, she noticed the lines weren’t working, likely because of the bad weather.
“I’m sorry,” Tara said to the woman. “But the storm probably took down the phone lines and the cell tower. Where did you crash?”
But all the lady could mutter was, “My poor John, oh my poor John…”
Tara came around the counter and assured the lady that her husband would arrive to the hospital, one way or another. She then asked her for the exact location of the crash and offered to drive her there.
Source: positivitybuzz.com
