Thursday, January 25, 2007

Good Samaritan Moment

I was driving through rush hour traffic, slowly inching my way to a stop light on Albert and Victoria. Perhaps the busiest intersection in the city. I saw two young men arguing, and it was quickly escalating into a fist fight. The woman with them was wailing, and one of the men shoved her down into a heap. Other men drove by and walked the long way around. I became incensed.

I signaled... honked and flagged the man beside me to let me cut across a few lanes of traffic before moving through the green light. I pulled up, hopped out of my car, and confronted them.

"What is going on here?" I said. "Am I going to have to phone the police?" I held up my cell phone to prove that I could.

"Mind your own business!"

"I will not! You have disrespected this young lady and this is unacceptable behaviour."

"Well, he stole my cigarettes!"

I couldn't believe all this was over a pack of smokes. I said, "You. Give back the cigarettes and walk away." Turning and looking at the other man, I said, "And you. Stop yelling. Help your girlfriend. And cross the street."

A little bit of commotion as they were wondering if they should listen to me... I held up my phone and uttered another threat about the police.

In the meantime, a chivalrous man decided to hang out just ahead in case I needed assistance. Finally.

So, the two young men decided they would do as I asked. I waited there until the couple crossed the busy street. The chivalrous man waited also.

He nodded in my direction. Feeling like an off duty policeman, I hopped in the car and continued home.

3 comments:

  1. Michelle...I want you with me whenever I'm navigating dark alleys or being muscled for cigarettes.

    Amazing woman you! Seriously.

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  2. I would have been terrified. Wow.

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  3. Whoohoo!

    You go, Michelle!

    I have sometimes come close to taking action, but have always been arrested by fear.

    Maybe now I can remember your example and be brave.

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