A Good Deed
Heading out to get the mail late one afternoon, I spied a couple of cute guys coming down the block wheeling suitcases. A tall dark haired guy and a shorter blonde one resembling QAF's Brian & Justin a bit. They asked me about a local address. When I explained that they needed to go back and turn left, they seemed puzzled. I deduced that they were foreigners with a possible English barrier. They told me they were from Russia. I decided to walk them to the corner and point them on their way. When I got there, I realized the numbers were going the wrong way. I asked if they were looking for a private residence, and that's when I found out they were looking for a moving company. I sent them in the other direction. I went back to my house and got in the car to head to the supermarket.
I ended up passing them again, and realized that they had gone beyond the address they needed. I told them it has to be that building back there, as the address numbers were already out of range. They did, and I went to the store.
I picked up my groceries, and on the way back, there they were again, on the same street. I inquired if they had any luck, and they replied that they did speak to someone. They now needed to catch a taxi to take them to the house where they would be sleeping. Since we don't live in an area where cabs would be driving by, I asked where they needed to get to. I was surprised that the company did not call a car service for them. I did not know their location but put it into my GPS and realized it was only minutes away. I said I would take them. I popped the trunk for their luggage and they both got into the back seat.
I found out that it was their first time here in America, and they were to work for a few months. The ride should've been quick, but it was rush hour, so things took a bit more time. Meanwhile I wondered if I should charge them anything for the usage of gas, especially with the high prices nowadays. I decided I would not.
I reached their destination. They asked me how much money I wanted, and I told them not to worry about it. They said that Americans are nice, and Russians would never be that nice, especially to foreigners. The younger one reached into his back and gave me "a souvenir from Moscow". I said no, but he insisted. I ended up with a bottle of Stolichnaya Russian Vodka and a good feeling inside.
I ended up passing them again, and realized that they had gone beyond the address they needed. I told them it has to be that building back there, as the address numbers were already out of range. They did, and I went to the store.
I picked up my groceries, and on the way back, there they were again, on the same street. I inquired if they had any luck, and they replied that they did speak to someone. They now needed to catch a taxi to take them to the house where they would be sleeping. Since we don't live in an area where cabs would be driving by, I asked where they needed to get to. I was surprised that the company did not call a car service for them. I did not know their location but put it into my GPS and realized it was only minutes away. I said I would take them. I popped the trunk for their luggage and they both got into the back seat.
I found out that it was their first time here in America, and they were to work for a few months. The ride should've been quick, but it was rush hour, so things took a bit more time. Meanwhile I wondered if I should charge them anything for the usage of gas, especially with the high prices nowadays. I decided I would not.
I reached their destination. They asked me how much money I wanted, and I told them not to worry about it. They said that Americans are nice, and Russians would never be that nice, especially to foreigners. The younger one reached into his back and gave me "a souvenir from Moscow". I said no, but he insisted. I ended up with a bottle of Stolichnaya Russian Vodka and a good feeling inside.