Doing Right

Here is a nice little feel good story for you. A few days ago the young boy who lives across the street knocked up to borrow a few tools. Let me first clarify a few things…

when I says”young” he is probably in his early 20s and living with his girlfriend and baby. So, while still young, he is very much an adult. And second, when I say “tools”, he had  his entire wheel assembly in pieces in an attempt to replace his brakes. So I wasn’t exactly sure what he needed, and I don’t think he was either.

But I went into the house and brought him a nice full set of ratchets and box wrenches for starters. My family then returned to the front porch to resume our little happy hour. A couple of hours later, the boy – Eric came over to return the tools.

I looked at him and told him about how my father was in the hardware business for over 40 years and that I had more tools than I needed. But I also told him that I remember my dad often loaning and giving tools to friends, family, and neighbors because he always wanted to help out where he could.

So I told Eric, in the spirit of my dad, to keep the tools. I told him that I thought he was a good kid and neighbor, and  if he could use them, I was happy to share the wealth. He was very happy and considered them an early birthday present. The one thing I told him was to remember where they came from the next time he has the chance to pay that gesture  forward or do something kind for someone.

And then the very next day….

I was driving home from the gym and I saw Eric’s car double parked in the street a few blocks away. (With new brakes I hope). I jokingly rolled down the window to give him a hard time about blocking the road and his response was worth a million dollars.

He replied,

“This lady over here has a flat tire. I don’t know who she is but I’m going to change it for her”. I just smiled and said “you’re a good man Eric”.