As a woman walked down the streets one day, she spotted a beggar. The
man looked pretty old, unshaven and ill dressed. Every passer-by looked at him
with contempt; Not like they had anything against him, but merely because of
who he was- a filthy beggar.
But
when this particular woman saw him, she was filled with compassion.
The beggar was
improperly dressed for a weather so cold. Precisely, he wasn’t dressed by
wrapped up in what looked like a coat from a very old and not-so-warm suit. She
kindly asked the man “Sir? Are you all right?”
The man looked
at the women, who, clearly by her appearance was a demonstration of what people
from a wealthy background looked like. The old beggar thought that she, like
every other person, was mocking him. “Leave me alone,” he growled.
The women did
not move. Instead, to his surprise, she smiled at him and gently asked if he
was hungry.
“No, I’ve just
come from dining with the president. Now go away.”-the beggar replied with a
notable sarcasm. The woman’s smile did not fade. She slid her hands under the
beggar’s arm and tried to pick him up.
“Woman, what do
you think you are doing?” the beggar sounded annoyed.
“Is there a
problem ma’am?” a policeman shouted, walking towards the lady and the beggar.
“Not at all
officer. I’m just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?”-the
women replied
The policeman
looked at her with surprise- “that man is old jack and has been here for years.
What have you got to do with him anyway?”
“I am taking
him to a cafeteria to eat something and to get him out of the cold for a
while”- The women answered.
“Are you crazy,
lady?” the homeless man resisted. “I don’t want to go in there!” Then he felt
strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up. “Let me go, officer. I didn’t
do anything.”
“It’s a good
chance to feed yourself jack. Don’t blow it.”- The officer advised.
After a lot of
difficulty, the woman and the officer managed to drag jack into the cafeteria.
It was past breakfast and too early for lunch hour of the day. The manager
strode towards the table and asked “What’s going on here, officer?” he asked.
“Is this man in trouble?”
“She brought
old jack in here to be fed,” the policeman answered.
“Not in my
cafeteria! People like him are bad for business.”-the manager angrily retorted.
“Now you know
why I didn’t want to come in here woman.”- Jack said to the lady-“now let me
go. I never wanted to be here in the first place.”
The woman
turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled. “Sir, I reckon you know Eddy and
Associates, the banking firm down the street?”
“Of course I
do, ” the manager answered impatiently. “They hold their weekly meetings in one
of my banquet rooms.”
“And I guess
you make a good amount of money through those meetings.”
“Why does it
concern you, I anyway?”
“Because I am
the CEO of the company” the women replied, showing no sign of pride in her
statement. “Oh.”- it was all that the manager managed to say.
She looked at
the officer- “Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal,
officer?”
“No thanks,
ma’am,” the officer replied. “I’m on duty.”
“Then, perhaps,
a cup of coffee to go?”
“Yes, ma’am.
That would be very nice.”
“I’ll get your
coffee for you right away, officer.”-the manager immediately replied.
“You served him
right,” he said.
“Oh, believe me
officer, that was not what I intended. I have a reason behind all this.” She
stared at Jack intently, and asked “Jack, do you remember me?”
Old Jack
examined her face- “well you do look familiar.”- He thoughtfully added.
“Do you
remember a cold and hungry girl who frequently visited this place when you
worked here?” the women asked – “she has perhaps grown old hasn’t she?”
The officer
looked surprised. He couldn’t imagine this fine looking woman as a poor and
hungry woman.
“I had just
graduated and had come to the city looking for a job. Didn’t find one for a
really long time. I was running out of cash and had been asked to vacate my
apartment too. I lived on these streets for days. It was the cold month
of February, I still remember. And that’s when I found this place and walked in
hoping to find eatable my little budget could afford.”
Jack’s face
suddenly lit up- “now I remember you. I used to be at the counter. You came up
and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said that it was against
company policy.”
“I know,” the
woman said. “Then you offered me the biggest roast beef sandwich, a cup of
coffee, and a table for me to sit and enjoy the meal. I saw you put the price
of my food in the cash register”
“So you started
your own business?” Old Jack asked.
“No, not exactly. That very afternoon I got a job. I worked my
way up. Then, I started my own business.” She opened her purse and pulled out a
business card. “Please pay a visit to the personnel director of my company.
I’ll go talk to him now. I am sure there is something in my office for which we
can use your help. We can even pay you a certain amount of your salary in
advance.”
Fighting back the tears, Jack asked-“How can I ever repay your
kindness?”
“You don’t have to” the woman answered. “Thank Jesus. He led me
to you.”
“Thank you for all your help, officer,” she said to him as they
both walked out the door.
“On the contrary, Ms. Eddy, thank you. I saw a miracle today.
And of course, thank you for the coffee”
She frowned. “I forgot to ask you whether you used cream or
sugar. That’s black.”
“I do use cream and more sugar than what is good for my health”-
He replied
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“Please don’t be. I have a feeling that this coffee is going to
taste as sweet as sugar”- He replied with a smile.
