Ta La La

                Suddenly, two red blinking lights caught his sight. Even in the dim light of the day, he saw an old woman, obviously seeking for help. The old woman was weakly looking at her tires not minding the heavy rain pouring on her body. Therefore, after parking his car, he immediately got out from it. Cold rain welcomed his body and even with the smile on the old lady’s face, he knew that the woman needed help. He guessed that the woman waited for help in an hour or two.

                “Good afternoon Ma’am, I’m here to help you. By the way my name is Jared.”

                “Thanks God and you’re here. You’re the only one who dropped by to help me.”

                “Why don't you go inside your car Ma’am where you can warm yourself?”

                Well, the only problem was that the woman got a flat tire, but that was already frustrating for an old lady. Jared immediately got his car tools from his car trunk and he crawled under the old woman’s car right away. He looked for the perfect place to set the jack, not minding the thick grease that was dripping on his cheek. After setting the jack, Jared began to fix the old woman’s tire.

                While Jared was fixing her tire, the old woman lowered her window and began talking with him. She told him that she was a doctor and she was from Nagsango, a far place from Jared’s town. She also told him that she attended a seminar at Marikit Provincial Medical Center and just passed by at Kalayaan Street where she got flat tire.

                After Jared was done with the old woman’s car, she asked Jared how much she owed him. Any amount would have been all right with her. The old woman already imagined herself and all the awful things that have happened if Jared had not stopped and helped her. Jared thought about the money once, considering that he had helped many people and all of them offered him money in return but he refused to accept, instead, he said, “Ma’am, money is not important to me. You don’t owe me anything. This was helping someone in need. If you really want to pay me back, just share your money the next time you meet another person in need. And when you do that, think of my name… Jared.”

                Jared waited until the old woman started her car and drove off. It had been a cold and depressing day, but he felt good as he headed for home, disappearing into the twilight.

                A few miles down the road, the woman saw a small eatery. She went in to grab a bite to eat, and take the chill off before she made her trip home. The eatery looked dingy but customers crowded it. After finding the perfect spot to seat, the old woman’s waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. She had a sweet smile, one that being on her feet the whole day could not ever forget.

                The old woman noticed that the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain and pressures change her attitude. The old woman wondered how someone who had so little could be so patient and giving to a stranger like her. Then she remembered Jared.

                After the woman finished her meal and the waitress went to get change for her thousand bill, the old lady secretly slipped off right out the door. The old lady was gone by the time the waitress came back. The waitress wondered where the old lady could be. While dishing off the table where the old woman had eaten, the waitress saw four P1000.00 bills clipped in a small piece of paper. Then she noticed something written in the small piece of paper.

                There were tears in her eyes when she read what the old lady wrote: “You don't owe me anything. I have been there too. Somebody once helped me out; the way I know I’m helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here is what you do: Do not let this chain of love be broken and end with you. And when you do this, just think of my name…Aurora.”

                Well, there were lots of table to clear, sugar containers to fill, chairs to arrange and people to serve, but the waitress made it through another day.

                That night, when the waitress got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the money and what Aurora had written. How could the woman know the exact amount the waitress and her husband needed for her hospitalization fee?

               With their first baby due next month, the waitress knew that it was going to be really hard for her and her husband. She knew how worried her husband was, and as he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered soft and low, “Everything is gonna be alright. I love you Jared.”#