Today I had 3 places to go and that means 4 times (counting home) to put the ‘chair into and out of the car, and had decided I would take any help offered or ask for it, if needed.***
All places were in one mall, but not worth an extra ‘loading’ if unnecessary.
First stop, okay where I asked directions to 2nd stop. I decided to wheel there and lose one strain on my shoulders. As I returned to my car which is 19 years old, dressed in black slacks, shoes, light blue top, black and gray jacket , and a ½ smile so I don’t look grumpy, a young man bounded toward me to ask if I needed help. ***I began to say “No” and then said “Yes” and he said…point order
1. I reminded him of his mother, but I had a younger voice, nice and clear.
2. I told him (70) and he said his mother was 63 but looked older than I and had a ‘whispery older voice’
3. Asked if I could help him.
4. Did I have a gas can and I said “No”
His truck was about ½-hour drive to the East, out of gas. He arrived to me on a bicycle (that I hadn't noticed until he pointed it out as I was looking to putting the chair into my car,) that he had had in the truck and was checking for gas stations that would help him but…..
..I don’t know this for a fact, but apparently one must now buy a gas can ($9.18, with tax) and he had $7.00 on him. As well, he needed gas to get home, about an hour’s drive South. (I tank up 4 times a year and when I'm running on 1/8th tank, so pay no attention to some details.)
He is French Canadian, about 30, well dressed in work clothes, neatly trimmed hair, moustache and short, chin-shaped beard, brown eyes, from our Province of Québec: most definitely does not look like a street ruffian or homeless person.
I hesitated in my mind, saying” I am being taken” yet…again I felt not, so said, “I don’t have much $$ on me ($30.00 and change) and after double checking exactly what he needed, I asked if $20.00 would do the trick and handed it to him. He mentally calculated and I took out another $5.00 in change and handed it to him , then he was embarrassed and wanted to give it back as he said he felt so foolish. I decided I would “do a good deed" and see what happened, as he said he would pay me back.
He comes through here very early in the morning, and leaves about 3:00 p.m. and suggested he buy me a bottle of wine. Chit-chat. Le Piat D’or White I chose. I ripped my address from an envelope I had and gave it to him, and we discussed map and when I said Newspaper, Library, RCMP station, he said he knew where to go.
With sincere thanks he left for his bike and began the trek back to his truck (whereby he would pass many gas stations) and waved again once on the highway. He did ask If I were going his direction and I said, "No. I am not, as I have yet to do the marketing, right here". I pointed to the far end of the mall, to the store, where I drove and accepted help*** from another offer when I came out with my groceries, and this young man went out to the driving lanes to stop traffic to let me in so I could leave the Mall.
What would you have done?
Do you vote YES or NO that I was conned? and maybe why you chose your answer and let’s all see?
..and I won’t know until tomorrow, Wed the 19th. I’ll be back in 3-4 days and tell you what happened.
Me? the eternal optimist, as well as the most cynical woman on earth says YES~ If he doesn’t show……well it’s NO~~~~too late
P>S>
I must mention this. I said that he was a very charming young man, so if I was being conned, I wanted him to be well aware that I knew this. (As sometimes happens to me, I say all the right words, bur thern I cannot quote myself afterward.)
He also had said he would pass my good deed along.(I never looked at his ring finger.)
love
Izzy
