Jimmy Jones

Jimmy Jones was a poor man. He worked hard helping Mr. Conner with the pigs and horses, and even though Jimmy didn’t make much money, he was happy to help old Mr. Conner out, after all, Mr. Conner was getting on in age and couldn’t tend to thing on his farm like he used to.

It was getting late in the evening when Jimmy started up his old Pinto automobile and began chugging down the road for home.  The sun had faded into grey and a light rain was beginning to fall. It was late October and the chill of the evening was apparent as it came though the broken rear window of his old Pinto. As he traveled the road toward home, he suddenly came upon a brand new Cadillac, sitting half on and half off the road. As he slowed to get a better look, he could see the Cadillac had a flat tire and what appeared to be an elderly woman with grey hair, standing on the other side of the car, a shawl pulled tightly around her shoulder. As Jimmy came to a stop and began to exit the Pinto, the woman seemed to back away, as if she may be fearful of him. He was after all, very dirty from working all day, and he was driving an old clunker of a car. He may have looked as if he wanted to rob the woman or do harm to her the way he just pulled up and got out of the car. She had every right to be fearful.

“Hello” Jimmy cried out. “Do you need help?”

The woman was skeptical, after all, she had been stranded for over an hour and no one had offered help until now.

“I am fine….thank you” she replied.

Jimmy looked at the flat tire and the rain that had begun to fall.

“You don’t look fine. Why don’t you get into your car and I’ll see if I can fix your tire.”

She was anxious but she knew she could never fix the tire herself and besides, it was getting late and the rain was becoming heavier. She had tried to call for help but her cell phone was not receiving a signal. What else could she do? She climbed into the driver’s seat and locked all the odors, waiting for the next move from the sudden appearance of a stranger.

As she sat there, she could feel the bumps and the occasional swearing of the man as he worked in the rain and the mud to change her tire.

After what seemed like an eternity, Jimmy appeared at the car’s window. “Okay Miss, you are all set. Drive careful now.”

Stunned, she lowered her window. “Wait young man, wait. Let me pay you for helping me.”

“Aww, that’s not necessary, I was glad to help.”

“No I insist; I am so grateful to you…please, let me pay you’”

“No, I am happy I was able to help you, that is my reward, but hey, if you really are grateful, then tell you what, the next time you see someone in need of help, do your best to assist them. Just remember me, Jimmy Jones.”

‘Yes, I promise I will. Thank you Jimmy Jones.”

With that she drove on down the road as the rain continued to fall and the night grew darker.

Jimmy got back into his car, cold and wet, but happy that he was able to help someone out of a dire situation. Sure, it was only a flat tire, but a flat tire to that old woman was a major problem. One that Jimmy could and did take care of.

As the woman continued down the road, she saw a dimly lit diner and pulled in to dry herself off and perhaps get a warm bite to eat and hot cup of tea.

She entered and sat down as the waitress came over.

“Hi there.  Welcome to Brady’s Diner.” she said, handing her a towel to dry off with.

The waitress looked very tired. Her eyes were sleepy and it looked as if she had been on her feet all day and on top of that she looked as if she was at least eight months pregnant.

“Oh thank you for the towel, how kind of you. I think I will have a fried egg sandwich and a hot cup of tea please.”

“Sure thing honey, I’ll bring the tea right away so you can warm up a little.”

As the woman enjoyed her tea, she noticed how hard the waitress was working, getting orders, cleaning tables and counters, picking up dirty dishes, even sweeping the floor occasionally.  Upon finishing her egg sandwich and tea, she asked for her check and gave the waitress a one hundred dollar bill to pay the check. As the waitress had to go to the back to get her change, she silently slipped out the door and disappeared into the cold of the night.

When the waitress returned with her change, she realized the woman had left her a wonderful gift. She was so overwhelmed she sat down at the table for a moment.  That’s when she saw the note:

“I know what you are going through. The same thing happened to me just hours ago, so please accept this small gift for your kindness and your love toward me. As I promised to the person that helped me that I would help someone else, please do the same if you have the opportunity. We all need help once in a while.”

The waitress was in tears, not only for the wonderful words of that stranger, but also for the four one hundred dollar bills folded up inside the note. Her husband would be so happy. He has been struggling to support his family for a long time and now with another mouth to feed soon to be here, the money left by a loving stranger would ease some of the pain.

She got home, telling her husband what had happened. He broke down in tears, giving thanks to God.

“You are a good man, my husband, and I am so happy some of that goodness was shown to you tonight. I love you Jimmy Jones.”