Did not know this was in my future, but I drove a veteran and his amazingly beautiful Pakistani wife seven and some miles to his humble home after we both struck up jokes about something on sale at a store.
Anyway they had crying tissues for the local (Indiana University) basketball hero guys who lost early in the playoffs. I had just said that I knew a couple of "friends" I could buy these for and stab them with them for weeks. This guy behind me in line said that maybe they should also have monogrammed toilet paper.
I said, "Now you're talking about football season!" We both laughed a bit and started up talking more and more.
Turns out they were walking when we got to our car. I asked if they needed a lift and he refused, so we went across the street to the other store in our tour and they walked in. Surprised to see them again, I said I was off work and on a simple mission and I would gladly give them a ride to wherever they are going.
He refused for the third time.
I said, "You are a veteran, aren't you?" He said, "Yes, but I do not want any special treatment." I just said that, "I would be honored if I could give you a lift to wherever you are headed and I would think nothing more of it." I told him how I had tried to serve when I was younger and was rejected twice in the early seventies, but I had family who served.
I could see by his gaze that he was thinking about taking a ride, but still unsure. I opened the back door and told him that I was mostly unarmed and except for this pen I keep in my pocket, which I pulled out and threw into the back seat floor board, and this blade (big ass knife thing I keep with me, with which I did the same) I am unarmed and he is welcome to have a ride home.
He picked them both up, handed them back to me and said, "You call these weapons? Maybe someone should buy you some tissues." Then shook my hand, chuckling, got into the car with his wife and told me where to drive.
I do not think I have ever had a similar experience.
We were instant "friends" and I would recognize him again.
