The Kindness of Strangers

Last night I met a friend for dinner at the Elephant Bar. I was running late, juggling my big-mom-purse, the diaper bag, and of course the baby and running into the restaurant. Dinner was nice, I really enjoyed spending the time with Renee. It was after dinner that the problems started.

My cell phone had died during dinner, which should have been that big of a deal. As I headed back to my car, I was searching my purse for my keys (I said it was a big-mom-purse so this did take a while) but of course I couldn't find them. I look in the car, and there they are. Sitting on my seat, laughing at me. I had a million thoughts running through my head, I had a baby in my arms, my cell phone was dead, and I had to go to the bathroom RIGHT NOW. So I run into the mall, searching for a restroom, There is not one anywhere close to where I am. I finally run into Nordstroms, up the the second floor, and find the ladies restroom conveniently with a nice Mother's Room so I can change Brendan as well. I then search my purse again, just to make sure I don't have the extra set in my purse. Of course not.

My next thought is, I need to find a payphone. Let me tell you, in case you haven't looked for one lately, with the increase in Cell phones, pay phones are increasingly less in public places. I walk into this small photo shop at the end of the mall with bags and snotty-nose baby in hand and ask the young girl behind the counter if she knows where a payphone is. She immediately just hands me her phone and tells me to make as many phone calls as I need, then she hands me a Kleenex "for your baby" she says. I first try my husband - no answer. Luckily, we have AAA. I guess it's not that lucky since we are required to at least have one for our AAA Auto insurance and I bought myself a membership since this is not the first time I have locked my keys in my car. So I make the call. It is 8:05, I am told the truck will be there by 8:15. I try to explain to them that I don't have a cell phone, so they wont be able to call me back when the girl behind the counter tells me, "you can give them my number and just wait here until they come."

This young girl has no idea who I am, just a mom, with a running-nose-baby, having a bad day.

The tow truck finally shows up at 8:35 and lets me into my car. I tell the girl I'm sorry I don't have anything to offer as thanks, she tells me, "no worries." She could have just pointed me in the direction of a pay phone, or tell me she doesn't know where one is. But instead, she went the extra step to show some compassion for a frazzled mom. I leave the girl without even knowing her name. Just a stranger, helping a stranger out.