Today I witnessed an incredible act of kindness from a 25-year-old National Express bus driver. Heres what happened.
At one of the stops, an elderly lady, probably near 80, climbed aboard. I noticed her, frail but determined. She fumbled with her handkerchief which had money tucked inside, of course carefully counted out the right fare, and gently asked the driver if he could let her off at the next stop by the corner shop. As usual, he nodded and pulled up at the shop a moment later. The lady handed him the coins and thanked him warmly, calling him my dear boy.
But the driver didnt take her money. Instead, he pulled out his own wallet, briefly told us he’d be back in three minutes, and quickly dashed into the shop. Soon enough, he returned carrying four pints of milk, some cream, a loaf of bread, a packet of pasta and some meat. He offered all those groceries to the old lady. She tried to refuse, saying,
You mustnt, my pensions just about enough for bread and the basics.
But he was firm and replied,
If you wont take them, Ill have to throw them away.
She burst into tears, thanked him over and over again, and wished him nothing but good fortune in life. The driver got back on the bus. Then a woman in her forties piped up,
Was it really worth spending your money and wasting our time just for a bit of gratitude?
The young driver turned around, calmly opened the doors, and asked her to leave with these words:
Its because of people like you that older folk think all young people are ill-mannered, since all you teach your children is hypocrisy and greed!
She stormed off, face as red as a beetroot! Well done, lad the world would be a far better place with more people like you!
