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photo credit: J A Alcaide |
On the way I stopped to buy a drink and 2 newspapers (FT and Telegraph) in a little newsagent. The guy behind the till told me that the cost was 4 pounds and 15 pence.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out 4 pound coins. I looked at my hand and paused. I thought “I will have to take out my wallet and pay with a 10 pound note.”
In the moment of pause, a black guy who was standing behind me reached over and put 15 pence in my hand and said “have a good day”. The shopkeeper took the 4.15 and I walked out of the shop with my papers and drink.
This stranger’s act of generosity, completely unexpected generosity, left me all day thinking “but why? Why did he do it?” and a sense of gratitude. These 15 pence left me feeling more happy that week than any of the meetings with important people, all the planned social activity. I am writing about it here months later, and I can’t tell you too many specifics of the rest of my meetings during that week. (Day out at the Polo was fun; and the Queens club tennis.)
What are your thoughts?