Stranger = 1, Me = 0

Last Friday couldn’t have been worse, yet better at the same time.

I was waking up to such a spirit that I would attend The SabangMerauke Diversity Dinner in Friday night – been longing to meet SM’s Big Family after months since our farewell dinner. My spirit was not up for too long because just after I arrived at the Office, my schedule was crushed due to a sudden meeting and a client emergency.

Failed to attend the dinner and felt so miserable scrolling through great photos of that event. I drove home around 8 pm to at least meet my son before he went to bed. The traffic was a disaster, and my feelings fell to the bottom. In line with my bad mood, my car was also beginning to show its temper: it had an engine failure in a dark, crowded-but-quiet street. Luckily (yes, we Indonesians could always find the positive thing in every desperate situation), I was in the left lane, so I didn’t cause a scene or heavier traffic.

Used to be in such a situation, I panicked but pretended to be calm (although no one was looking at that time to judge). I called my husband and was told to check the engine, so I again pretended to be brave and went out of the car to check the engine, even though I honestly don’t have any idea what my husband was instructing. I focused on analyzing with perfect failure when I realized two men were approaching me. Shocked – I couldn’t understand what they were saying to me until they repeated it for (maybe) the fifth time.

Stranger: ‘Is your car having an engine failure?’

Me: ‘Huh? oh.. yeah..’

Stranger: ‘Can we check the engine?’

Me: ‘Huh? Check the engine?’

Stranger: ‘Yeah, so that we can find the problem?’

Me: ‘Huh? oh yeah..yeah.. the engine.. yes, please.’

Stranger: ‘Have you called your mechanic yet?’

Me: ‘no..no.. I haven’t. Let’s take a look…..

…and they looked at my car while I was doing what they instructed me to.

Long story short, they couldn’t find the real problem, but they found a way to make the engine work so I could drive back home and didn’t get left alone on that dark road.

I got home safe and sound that night, thanks to them.

So, to summarize the story? I’ve had a bad day but also a great day at the same time. I was quite frightened when they approached me, but they turned out to be very kind and caring gentlemen. May God bless them and shower them with health and wealth.

Because of those strangers, my faith in humanity restored strengthened.

Love,

Human.