Son, Today You Are An Angel |
William J. Garvey
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This story took place on a trip home from New York City. I was driving down the US-80 about 2 hours from home, after being gone for couple days. I couldn't wait to see my wife and my own bed. I was daydreaming as I listened to the truck drivers on the CB talking back and forth. My ears perked up as I heard one of the truckers say there was a little old man and woman standing behind their car with the hood up. The truckers were talking about how someone needed to get them help or they were going to get hurt or killed. It was just about then I came over the hill and saw them. They reminded me of my Mom and Dad. I remember thinking to myself, "OK God, this is a test, Right? I grabbed the mike for the CB, and said, "I got them!" As I pulled my pickup behind their car and put on my 4-way flashers, I could hear the truck drivers giving me words of thanks for taking the time to help. It gave me a warm feeling deep inside. I asked the man and the woman if I could help them, telling them, "I was once a mechanic." They were so happy and told me that they had been there for over 2 hours. They said that one truck driver told them he would call for help and it shouldn't take very long. He then said "that was over an hour ago." They told me they were getting very cold, but were afraid to sit in the car, for fear of no one seeing them. The man said they started taking turns to keep warm, after it had started to rain. I looked at their car and told them one of the fan belts had come apart and it needed a pulley. I knew I didn't have any parts to fix their car, telling them I was sorry, but at least I could get them help. We walked back to my truck and I cleared the maps and stuff off my front seat, giving them a place to sit as they got up into my truck. As they were getting settled, I turned my heater on high, it felt good knowing, at least I could give them warmth. The couple told me they were on their way to Michigan for a funeral for an old friend. I said I was sorry to hear about their loss, then I offered to give them a ride to Michigan, telling them that is where I was going. They smiled and declined. As we drove down the road a few miles and got off the turnpike, they asked me to stop before the tollbooth, they didn't want me to pay twice. I told them they had already been through enough and I wasn't letting them go until I knew they were taken care of. After the wrecker was called I walked with them out to my truck and got ready to go. The man walked up to my driver's window to say one more good-bye. He then reached up to the window opening, putting his hand on mine, asking, "Son are you a religious man?" I told him that I believed in God, but admitted I didn't go to church as much as I should. He smiled as he told me how he and his wife had just finished praying, just before I had come over the hill in my truck. He said, they asked God to send them an angel to help them. He then looked deep into my eyes as he squeezed my hand and said, "Son, today you are an Angel." I will never forget the love I felt from a family with the car I could not fix. Maybe today I was an angel.
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