I made a grown man cry today.

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Posts: 27796

Maggie Valley, NC

I made a grown man cry today.

« on: December 07, 2017, 01:40:48 PM »

Drove a bus load of rowdy middle school kids on a field trip today to the CDC here in Atlanta.

No bus parking on site so off I go to the parking lot of the nearby Kroger.

Circling the lot I see a couple of likely parking spots.

I choose one against the outer edge of the parking lot. It's not easy to slide a big yellow bus in a way that doesn't inconvenience others. The name of the school is writ large on the sides of the bus.

I also have to make sure that I don't get boxed in by dumb asses.

Parked I get out book and water and sit in the 3rd row where i can stretch my legs out.

4 spaces ahead of me there's a black pick up parked nose in to the kerb.

Drivers window is open and a man in his mid 50's is sitting looking miserable.

I can't see if there's anyone in the passenger seat.

His face gets red and now there are tears falling. For about 5 minutes he's distressed. Just sitting sobbing.

He reaches across the cab and then wipes his face with a white towel.

Once face dried he gets out of his cab, walks around the truck, opens the passenger door and I can see he's cleaning his teeth. Rinses out with some water and then uses the remaining water he has in a bottle to clean his face.

Then it's time for some deodorant and a hair brush.

Puts on a baseball cap. Walks back to the drivers door, helps the window to close and walks off towards Kroger.

I think so he's off to work.

I'll keep an eye out for him just in case.

About 15 minutes later he's walking across the parking lot with one shopping bag in his hand.

His walk is not a happy one. There's a lot of weight on this mans shoulders.

I exit my bus and walk over to him as he's putting his bag into his truck cab.

If he'd got a drunk/drug look I'd decided I was just going to say "You OK?"

He's clear eyed, slight 5 o'clock shadow.

I say "Good Morning". That always seems to be an ice breaker for me. Those words and my accent tend to put people at ease.

I ask if he would accept a gift from me.

He steps back and asks why I would give him a gift.

I tell him I'd seen he was upset and I hold my hand out with the gift folded and visible.

He asks again why I would offer him a gift.

I tell him that many of us in life have had our ups and downs.

He tears up and just nods his head.

I'm still holding the gift and push my hand forward a little more.

Now I'm starting to tear up. He seems to be a proud man.

Please take it I tell him.

He does so whilst asking my name and where I'm from.

He then tells me that he's David from Miami but has been in Atlanta a long time.

He shakes my hand, thanks me and I turn away and get back on my bus.

Back to my book.

A few minutes later he's at the bus door and gives me a folded piece of paper. Walks away.

The hand written note tells me that he will now be able to buy his grand daughter a Christmas present.


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Detn8er

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South Carolina