Elementor #724

I recently had a minor fender-bender.  I was motoring slowly through a grocery store parking lot looking for a space.  I saw no one moving or looking like they were about to move out of a spot.  And then, suddenly, someone did, and I was right behind him when it happened. His car came to a rest against the front panel of my driver’s side, just ahead of the door.

I couldn’t get out but I could get my window down, which I did.  I was met by an extremely agitated and noisy man.  He was shouting about my driving skills (nonexistent) and my intelligence (seriously lacking).  It was such a barrage and the whole situation so unexpected and unlikely, that I had some trouble responding at first, though I tried.  My fallback in any confrontation is to try conciliation first, to speak quietly and gently and attempt to work with the other party.  This man was having none of it, and the shouting continued.  There were several references on his part to calling the police, and another one or two on my driving abilities.

When he saw that I was stuck in my vehicle, he pulled his back into the space so I could get mine out of the traffic.  I parked a couple of spots down. My car had a bit of white paint on it, easily rubbed out, and no dents, scratches, or other damage.

When I returned to him, he was still blustering.  The accident was all my fault; I was to produce my insurance information immediately.  He would call the police if he had to.

I looked at his vehicle, which had as little damage as my own, only its scuff was gray.

It was right about then that I heard a sweet, controlled voice from beside my right shoulder. It said, “He hit you.  I saw it from start to finish.  You had the right of way and he backed right into you.  I’ll stay here with you as long as it takes to get this taken care of.”

I turned to see a lovely young woman nodding at me.  It was then that I began to steady, to be able to think clearly.  Shouting and anger tend to shut me down; kindness will bring me awake every time.

I returned my gaze to the furious man.  “You did hit me,” I said.

“It was your fault!” he yelled again, and showed no sign of letting up or speaking with me civilly.

So I called the police, taking it out of his hands.  While we waited for them on the steaming asphalt on a 100 degree afternoon, I got the woman’s name.  I thanked her for offering support and for standing by.  And I told her I would never miss a similar opportunity in the future, if presented with one, to help someone as she had me.

It got sorted out eventually.  The man was informed that he could not back out of a space into traffic under any circumstances.  Moving traffic on any thoroughfare – backroad, highway, parking lot, etc. – had the right of way.  Always.

I was shaken by the circumstances and also heartened – heartened to have been granted the experience, myself personally, of someone else’s presence, kindness, compassion, and generosity when badly needed.  My Samaritan didn’t even have to stop, much less stand there for 45 minutes in the blazing heat to give a statement.  But she did and I’m grateful.

Everyone should have a Good Samaritan when needed.  And everyone should be one.