Several years ago, I was walking into Kroger and approached a man walking out, looking very, very worried. As I got close to him, he said to me, “I can’t find my car!” He looked to be late 60s, early 70s, and appeared extremely shaken, like a police report was moments from being filed.
I asked him, “Do you have a key fob?”
He replied, “I have an Escape.”
“No, I mean, on your key ring.”
He produced his keys and I told him “Press the red button”.
About twenty yards away, a car starts honking and I said, “You’re over there!”
He was amazed. “Oh, you are GOOD!!!!” he replied.
I showed him to press the red button again to stop the alarm, and I thought I saw tears of relief. Such a sinking, scary feeling to be at that moment when you believe your car’s been stolen.
As I walked away, he was showing another person what he’d just learned. I could be wrong, but I was pretty sure that other person was a random shopper exiting the store! Maybe not.
Today’s writing prompt was to write about an act of kindness that stuck in your memory and although I don’t really think of it as that (I mean, helping others is what we should be doing), I was still tickled by how tickled this man was with this simple trick. I love sharing knowledge and I’m glad I could show him.
I wonder if he’s used it since. I know I have!