Off The Record
Two Teenagers Mock An Elderly Woman On The Bus, But Everything Changes When A Homeless Man Steps In And Speaks Up
When a homeless guy intervenes to stop two inebriated youths from harassing an elderly woman on a bus, it changes his life.
Molly struggled up the steps inside the bus and was relieved to feel a sturdy hand supporting her as she climbed. She turned to thank him with a grin on her face and winced.
The hand covering her elbow belonged to a tall, thin man who looked like a scarecrow; he was obviously homeless and not very tidy. Grasping her arm away from the man, Molly gave him a stiff little “thank you.”
Sadly, the man grinned. He was accustomed to seeing rejection and disdain on people’s faces. But through it all, Tom was Tom. Molly sat down, her bulk taking up two seats, and he watched.
She had an air about her that made him think of his mother. To see him in this situation would have horrified his mother as well. Tom made his way to the rear of the bus so he could sit by himself.
Leaning his head back, he shut his eyes. The thought of his tiny Daisy, and how she had clung to him, would not leave him. Their lives were in disarray following the loss of their wife, Valery, who was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer two years prior.
Tom had spent all of their savings, as well as a loan backed by their house, on Valery’s medical care over the previous 18 months, but it had been in vain. After Valery’s death, Tom had to sell their home in order to settle their obligations.
His supervisor sacked him after growing impatient with his frequent absences to take care of Valery. With Valery gone, Tom’s only remaining possession was his daughter Daisy. Day by day, he had lost both his job and his house.
Tom was compelled to move with Daisy to a one-bedroom apartment in a dilapidated inner-city building with graffiti on the walls and the smell of human waste in the hallways when the house was sold.
Don’t judge people by their appearance.
The inevitable occurred when Child Services called and took Daisy away from Tom, allowing Tom to see her only by appointment at the group home. Before long, Tom found himself living on the streets with just a bus ticket to see Daisy as his only comfort.
A loud voice startled Tom out of his trance and caused him to sit up and open his eyes. “Looky here, driver!” said a teenager, who Tom could see was drunk right away. “This here lady has to pay for TWO tickets!”
The teenager stood before Molly, smiling and swaying. His equally inebriated and youthful acquaintance swaggered over.
That’s correct, he scoffed. “You gotta pay EXTRA for the extra seat!” Molly winced and clutched her handbag while the other travelers studiously avoided her gaze.
Even if they intended to rob her, she could tell that not one of them would move an inch to protect a plump elderly woman from these inebriated youngsters. Leaning down, the first youngster prodded her in the chest.
He exclaimed, “You need to MOVE, lady!” “My friend and I want those seats.”
Molly raised her head. “Young man, there are plenty of other seats empty!”
The other teenager came forward. “Sure, there are, but we want those seats, and you’re going to give them to us!” Molly noticed the teen’s alcohol-infused breath as he reached for her.
Just as he reached out to seize her, a strong voice interrupted. “Get your hands off that lady, my friend, or you and I are going to tango!”
That voice startled the teen, who jumped back and spun around. Molly was taken aback at seeing the vagrant who had assisted her boarding the bus approaching the teenagers.
The man raised his head high and appeared much bigger. “You two boys can go quietly, or I can help you off, but you’re getting off the bus,” he replied gently.
Molly noticed a flicker of terror cross the teenagers’ faces as they turned to confront him. Picking on a defenseless elderly woman was one thing; getting into a fight with the tall, wiry man in front of them was quite another.
Tom moved like a man who knew how to take care of himself, even though his clothing was tattered and old. The bus came to a stop at that very moment, and the two teenagers raced down the steps while glaring terrified at Tom over their shoulders.
“Ma’am, did those boys hurt you?” Tom said softly as he came in Molly’s direction. Do you require assistance?”
Molly looked at Tom with tears in her eyes. “I’m alright,” she said. “Thanks to you. Please, will you accompany me? Help me home.”
Tom gave a nod. “Obviously, Ma’am. Everything within my power.”
Upon reaching Molly’s stop, Tom assisted her in getting off and guided her to her apartment complex. Molly demanded that Tom come up and get a cup of coffee and a slice of apple pie.
Molly scowled when she heard Tom’s narrative over the pie and coffee. “I wonder,” she said, pulling out her phone. She turned to Tom with a victorious smile after striking up a conversation with someone and inquiring as to whether a particular position was still open.
“My son’s right-hand man recently left the farm he owns upstate. I believe you could be the diligent man he’s been seeking.”
Tom seemed shocked! “But…I don’t know anything about farming!”
“I told my son that, but I also told him you were strong and determined and that you could learn anything,” Molly remarked. “And you have strong motivation to succeed. Am I mistaken?”
Tom shook his head, his eyes welling with sorrow. “The job comes with a pretty little cottage and a good salary, insurance, and everything,” Molly added. “I have a feeling that in a few months you’ll have your Daisy back!”
And everything transpired precisely as Molly had anticipated. The son of Tom and Molly got along well with one another, and six months after he started working, Child Services returned Daisy to her father, and they began a new life together.
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