The Good Samaritan – Happy 2007

It wasn't a typical new years. A friend had some drinks on an empty stomach and needed some help. I had been in the same situation myself once, and vividly remember needing all the help I could get to make the time pass.

As we sat in the storage hallway area, I couldn't exactly leave her to get paper towels or water. A bus boy passed by to get a box. I asked him for some napkins and water. He ignored me; I like to think it was because he didn't know English and not because he didn't care. Next, the manager passed by and I asked him the same thing. This is the person whom I'm padding his wallet by being there. He walked by, noticed the situation and kept walking. Desperate for a little help, I didn't care who was around, I just needed someone to care for a second about the well-being of someone else. That night we were graced by the presence of an 80's cover band – Metal Shop. They were quite good, and dressed perfectly to match the era. As I'm trying to help my friend, the guitarist walks through. I asked him the same thing, and without thinking he hands me his own FIJI water. A few minutes later he came by to check on us.

Maybe he had been in that situation before himself. It was just the simplest gesture to show some love for complete strangers and get nothing in return. Not long after that, the manager (the same one that didn't care before) kindly asked us to leave and escorted my friend and I to the door. I guess we were posing some kind of liability problem. It was before the clock struck 12 at that point. I didn't care that I had to leave before midnight, but I couldn't believe people were still standing in line to get in. It was cold for Houston that night and I didn't take a jacket. I wonder how I looked in my "wife-beater" shirt while my friend tried to stay warm in my button up shirt. I just wish I could have thanked that guy that helped us. It's those little things in life that count.