I like to get to work at least a half hour early so I can unwind from the drive and have a cup of joe. Traffic on the highway to work would increase exponentially, so a five minute delay at the start of the trip would translate to an extra 15 to 20 minutes travel time and get me to work with only ten minutes to spare. Two blocks from home one day I am stopped at a red light. Directly ahead on the other side of the intersection is a lady with her trunk open, a jack in her hand and a flat tire. Her body English is screaming that she has zero clue on how to go about changing it. I am torn, I would want someone to help out my wife (now ex) were she in the same situation, and I am a helpful person; but if I stop to help I'll get to work with no time to relax,and besides there are plenty of other motorists around to help her.The sun came out and cast the shadow of a huge Celtic Cross on the road in front of me. The Cross graces the south west corner of Pine Hills cemetery. A child, a boy of 5 or 6 years of age that I had not seen heretofore, walks into view towards the rear of the disabled car. That settles the issue. No way I leave a mother with a small child in a potentially dangerous situation. When you are a father to your own children,( I have three), you are a father to them all. I pulled over into the beer store across from the disabled vehicle (I'd have blocked southbound traffic had I parked behind her) and trotted over to offer my services. Her relief was palpable, she thanked me and thanked me, telling me that her husband used to say to her..." If you ever get in trouble on the road I hope there is someone like me ( meaning the husband) around to help you". Anyhow, I got the gear I needed from her trunk, placed an orange pylon several feet behind me and got to work.The flat was on the left rear wheels' tire, and I was precipituously exposed to westbound traffic. As I was removing the nut lugs, the lady moved in behind me and asked if there was anything she could do. I said, " No, but just make sure you and your son are safe on the sidewalk". After a moment's silence she said.."Son? what son are you talking about". I said "Oh sorry, your daughter then". More silence, then she said..."I don't have a daughter either"....The immediate effect of her words was to send cold cold shudders through my whole body and stood the hairs on my arms and neck straight up. Nothing I'd seen or heard in my life up until that time had had such an extraordinary effect on me. "Oh", I said after what seemed like an hour but was probably a minute or so. I got the tire on and she couldn't thank me enough. "Just pay it forward" was my response. We both went our ways and I was left to wonder, "What was it that I'd seen that compelled me to pull over and help that Lady"? Was it a specter from the boneyard across the street? Or perhaps it was, as more than a few people have suggested, the Lady's as yet unborn son tripping back to a moment in time when his mother to be was in a spot, being the catalyst to get his mom to be out of harms' way thereby ensuring his own future birth. Or what do you think?
