Kindnesses

Today as I was returning home through my neighborhood I saw a lady drop something small and white out of her window. She was at an intersection waiting for me to pass through so that she could turn left.

Obviously, she didn’t intend for her 1/4 smoked cigarette to fall out of the window onto the streets that I traverse every day. Obviously, it was a mishap, an accident, a blunder. She looked like a nice person. Her SUV was big, black and shiny, her sunglasses looked expensive and her smooth brunette tresses were nicely combed back into a simple, yet purposeful ponytail.

Seeing that she wasn’t in a position to just jump out of her car and get her long lost cancer stick, I took it upon myself to pull up in front of her car in such a way that I was letting her know I was aware of her needs and that I wouldn’t let her leave with those needs unmet. I jumped out quickly and held up a finger (not that one…the “wait just a second” finger…c’mon!) and grabbed the little wayward wand and handed it to her gently through her window.

“You dropped this.” I said sweetly, and ran back to my car. There was no need to listen for her thank you. Sometimes kindnesses need to be done simply for the sake of kindness.

She looked at it, and then at me, probably unsure of my sanity. I waved as I drove away and I’m not certain but I think I saw her drop something again as I was pulling away.

Sigh.

Not really.

I did see her and her cigarette flick onto the street, but I didn’t stop, I just drove away and thought about how rude some people are. It was about 10 yards from the intersection that I thought of handling it that way. Wish I had thought of it sooner. I might have done it.

It is my neighborhood after all.