| he left her at a gas station
Posted: 5/17/2008 11:20:19 AM | My life intertwined with a total stranger's date / life last night. I had gone to a friends house, and then coming home, the LONG second detour came when I stopped at a gas station. My car only had 40 miles left on it, so I needed to stop for gas. Not that I was 40 miles away, but I didn't want to wake up and have 20 miles worth in the tank.
Naturally I pulled my car to a pump, got out and saw the fuel door was on the other side of the car. So I did a huge U turn, got out of my car.
Just as I was getting out, a very expensive looking, low riding SUV pulled up. It shined, it had giant hub caps, and loud rap blasting out the windows. I figured... a big money rap star must have been in there.
I was wrong, when I saw a great looking white guy hop out and said in a pissy voice, "You want us to get home right?" He slammed the door, called the person inside, "B****." He starts pumping gas while cursing and swearing up a storm.
Then I heard another voice say, "I'm gonna buy some cigarettes." I saw her, it was a woman that looked like she was going to a night club, but was older than everyone at a night club (32 years old I guessed).
She told him, "I hope you're in a better mood when I get out." Well she went in and THE DUDE LEFT HER! Put the gas nozzle away, squeeled his tires and left!
When she came out a little bit later she freaked out. While it wasn't late (10:30 pm), we were in an unpopulated area where there was only the gas station. She didn't at the guy that left her, but she freaked out even more when she started screaming, "Shit my cell phone was in there!" After that, she yelled out, "can someone give me a ride?"
She went up to one guy asked him for a ride, he said he wasn't a taxi. Then she asked someone else, and the person flat out ignored her. Finally, she came to me and said "You have a nice face, can you give me a ride?" Then she elaborated he left her, and she would call someone to pick her up, but her cell phone was in the SUV on the car charger. That had her numbers of people that could help.
I told her, not if she's going where he's going. She wasn't, and she told me she was going to her parents house, but they live 45 minutes away and she doesn't know the way. Luckily I had my GPS. I typed in the address for her.
She thanked me, but then she asked if I had been drinking cause it was a Friday. She asked me for ID. Good thing too, I didn't want to tell her my name. At that point, the other two cars left.
Then to top it all off, she asked if I would call someone on my phone, put them on speaker phone so she could ask the person if I'm trustable. I tried calling 2 people, no one answered, then on the 3rd person it was luck. It was a conversation that was flattering to me, then threatening to her like if the woman killed me, my friend (Ashley) is going to have to kick her ass.
That was all the woman needed to hop into my car. She started crying about 2 minutes into it. That really was not pretty at all. I did the classic thing to get her name. I said my name is Jeff and she told me her name.
We drove... we drove A LOT! I made her smile and laugh even when she was crying. She even told me that I shouldn't be making her laugh, cause she needs to be angry right now for what her fiance did to her.
Eventually I saw a Taco Bell, I pulled in and said have some food, its my treat. She said she doesn't eat Taco Bell and I told her what my best friend always told me, "Have a Chaco Taco, because Taco Bell doesn't make them, they come in a package." She went with that, ate it and smiled. Then she vented.
To make a long drive short, we got to her parents house and all of the lights were off. She punched in a code to open the gate and we drove down to the house. At that point, the woman mentioned that her parents had moved in a year ago or else she would know the number by heart.
When we pulled up, she thanked me, got out and knocked on the door. It was kind of funny, cause one by one the lights turned on! Dogs started barking! I saw her get into the house, and at that point I started punching in my own address.
I had to wait... and wait... and then I saw some grizzled old dude walking to my car. Then I thought, this is the part where he throws me off his property.
I got out of my car, cause I get weirded out whenever a stranger approaches my car. He looked me over, he didn't really look happy, but it could be from the fact that it was 11:20 at night.
He slapped me HARD on the shoulder and said, "You did alright kid." I think my exact words were, "Golly thanks mister, twernt nothin'." I asked how she was doing, he said something like he treats her like dog shit and she's just gotta learn money and looks aren't everything. Right after saying that he pulled out a lot of cash and said, "Here, take it for gas."
I took it, cause I'm not a moron, and when he took it he added, "Not all heroes wear capes; you remember that."
Wow. This is what happens when I don't say no when people ask me for help. | |
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| he left her at a gas station
Posted: 5/17/2008 11:28:33 AM | | That was a really cool story. I think this is a reminder that there are also angels on earth, and you are one of them. Amazing story. Truly inspirational. | |
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| he left her at a gas station
Posted: 5/17/2008 11:29:03 AM | | you were a real sweetheart and your mother raised you the right way. I am glad you were there for her and didn't take advantage of her. Thank you for being a gentle man. | |
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| he left her at a gas station
Posted: 5/17/2008 11:30:06 AM | OMG! OP.
It's called, The Favour Bank. I don't know if you read Tom Wolfe (he invented it in Bonfire of the Vanities) or Paulo Coelho, who romanticized it in The Zahir. However, it's a theory I live by and believe the world would be a better place if people helped each other without looking for something in return.  Some people call it paying it forward, whatever your term it's a good thing to do!
Kudos to you for helping a damsel in distress! What a git that guy was for doing that. She better learn after this. | |
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| he left her at a gas station
Posted: 5/17/2008 11:30:14 AM | | Honey, life doesn't end once you hit 30. Believe it or not, you can still leave the house AND go to clubs. | |
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| he left her at a gas station
Posted: 5/17/2008 11:34:03 AM | This sounds like total bullshit...
If you know how many miles you can get with the gas in your tank...
How come you don't know what side of your car the fill spout is on?
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| he left her at a gas station
Posted: 5/17/2008 11:36:08 AM | Oh and as it turned out she's 39, she told me somewhere.
It is really funny, all of my friends look for me to help them or to listen to their problems. Man trouble, call me, put up siding, call me, feed pigs, call me, baby sit a sick child, call me.
I just got out of a really bad relationship, so I've been telling people no, and you can help yourself. Just kind of taking a break from being nice and helping everyone.
Then this happened. | |
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| he left her at a gas station
Posted: 5/17/2008 11:37:46 AM | I drive a Ford Taurus, the miles you have left are right on a little display screen. It is not always accurate (I've had to walk to a gas station when it said 40 miles left).
As for how I don't know which side the fuel door is, I just got back from a 2 month trip to California a few days ago (even says so on my POF profile). | |
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| he left her at a gas station
Posted: 5/17/2008 11:53:28 AM | Hey OP,
my friend says she needs a free ride to airport,
I feel damn lazy today,
you seem like a nice person.
we're in MD btw,
when should she expect you?
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| he left her at a gas station
Posted: 5/17/2008 12:06:26 PM | Your a true gentleman.
With more ppl like you this world would be a much better and safer place.
Don't let the jerks deter you from enjoying the experience of helping someone out.
I believe in Karma, what you put out in this world you get back ten fold.
Have a super weekend. | |
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| he left her at a gas station
Posted: 5/17/2008 12:08:41 PM | | Yeah she probably is. My friend's uncle had jury duty over a man that was smacking his girlfriend around and she filed charges. Well by the time it went to trial, they were back together and had moved in together! She wanted to drop the charges after filing them, but the state stepped in and wanted to continue because of the time and money already put into it. | |
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| he left her at a gas station
Posted: 5/17/2008 12:09:50 PM | Dear Lost:
Thanks for such a heartwarming post. With all the cynicism around here these days, it was like a breath of fresh air.
I'm sorry to see those whose reactions to your story were that of wondering how you knew how many miles you had left.....what matters is that you DID know.....And, as for which side of the car has the gas tank, I have to think every time... Did you know that most cars have a diagram of a gas tank, near the gas gauge, and it will show you on which side of the car the gas tank is located. I never noticed it until someone pointed it out to me.
I was also impressed by the lady ...who...in her distress, had presence of mind to request some kind of verification from you that could lead her to reasonably expect not to have additional problems accepting a ride from you. I'll bet that, even though it was an inconvenience, you understood, and realized that you would hope that your mother, sister or daughter, would do the same.
You are a true gentleman...In addition to attributing it to your upbringing, I salute you for remembering and for calling it forth and acting on it when needed.
Sincerely,
Knittin Kitten | |
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| he left her at a gas station
Posted: 5/17/2008 12:18:17 PM | Wow, I can't believe someone would leave anyone stranded like that. Glad you did he right thing.
I made it a promise to myself that if I am driving and I see someone stranded, I'll help, but I always wonder if they are safe themselves. Glad to hear you helped someone that was really in need. | |
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| he left her at a gas station
Posted: 5/17/2008 12:27:39 PM | well done OP. done it myself a while back.
saw a woman get dumped and in hysterics at a service station. well i had my kids in the car and ex but still felt i should offer help of any sort to her. luckily she had her phone and was able to call someone for a lift. we just stayed by to make sure she got out of there ok
oh and i've had my car 4yrs and sometimes i cant remember which side petrol goes in. i blame my age :) | |
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| he left her at a gas station
Posted: 5/17/2008 12:31:45 PM | Only woman I ever met at a gas station looking for a ride ... asked me to take her to the county prison so she could visit her boyfriend because the bus didn't stop any closer to the prison than the gas station.
And I actually did it. | |
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| he left her at a gas station
Posted: 5/17/2008 12:32:10 PM | I can answer about the mileage and side of the car. I just did the exact same thing today. I own a 2007 that I just bought in Nov. 08. For 8 years before, I drove a 97 Lumina. The gas was on the left. My new car has it on the right. Even though, for the most part, 99% of the time, I get it right, when not thinking about it, I STILL pull up at times on the wrong side, especially when not at my regular station.
Your reasoning for calling it bullsh*t doesn't hold water. It is called "slippery slope" thinking. I wish people would just think before they type sometimes. You jumped to conclusions thinking your thinking is correct. It isn't. But then you could say I lied to. People who are always looking for crap, usually find piles of it, even if it is only in their own minds!
His story, BS or not, is a good one and encourages people to help one another. Hardly something to condemn!
Linda | |
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| he left her at a gas station
Posted: 5/17/2008 12:36:20 PM | Unattainable,
Your thinking isn't cynical at all. It is called the "cycle of abuse" and many women ( and men) are stuck in it due to low self-esteem and many other reasons. Some leave it with help. Others, even when helped, go right back. I hope this woman realizes what she is tolerating and the damage it can do to her, and ends up leading a happier life. But the chances are not in her favor, sorry to say.
Linda | |
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| he left her at a gas station
Posted: 5/17/2008 12:47:59 PM | | OP don't ever change, you reap what you sow. I don't know why some people just don't get it - we should be helping one another v. the "me, me me" mode of thinking. Your story is a definite day brightener! | |
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| he left her at a gas station
Posted: 5/17/2008 12:52:25 PM | Huge hugs for you, lostintheshuffle!
Thanks for sharing. We need to hear "hero" stories more often. | |
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| he left her at a gas station
Posted: 5/17/2008 1:00:38 PM | You are a prime example that chivalry is not dead. What a gentleman! Unfortunately you might even have put yourself at risk...I know you didn't want to leave a lady abandoned but what if she was nuts and pulled a knife on you? She could always have gone back into the gas station, called a cab and gotten home that way.
I think her father was a decent guy in thanking you and paying for your gas. It was an adventurous night alright, but you are a kind-hearted soul. Be careful next time! | |
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| he left her at a gas station
Posted: 5/17/2008 1:01:30 PM | | This is the first long post that i read ENTIRELY on POF because i enjoyed it since I read he first 3 sentences. As for you, you're a good man | |
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