I’m walking on Madison towards home. Up ahead is an elderly woman with a large L.L. Bean Boat and Tote bag.
I watch as she stops every few steps to rest.
I sidle up alongside.
“That looks heavy. I seem to be going your way, so may I help? We can carry it together.”
She sizes me up making sure I’m not about to rob her before saying, “No, I’m alright thank you,” looking at her watch.
The seer that I am says, “Are you going to the Express Bus stop, by any chance?”
“Yes, as a matter a fact I am,” she says, “and I’ll probably miss the 4 o’clock and have to wait for the 5.”
“Not if you let me help you, you won’t.”
After mulling this over she says, “Well, okay.”
We each take a strap, and boy, even with two of us, it’s heavy.
“What do you have in here, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Passover.”
“Oh,” says the shiksa.
We get to the bus that’s just pulling up, and she says, “I’m fine from here.”
“Are you sure?” I ask, “because I can help carry it onto the bus.”
There’s a middle-aged Latino man smoking, with a Spider-Man lunch box also waiting, listening to our exchange.
He says, “Don’t worry, I got it from here.”
We both smile, but the best part?
So did the woman who with little resistance, let him, making you wonder if he really was Spider-Man.
Hey, it is New York after all. 🙂 
SB
Why trust Spiderman over Wonder Woman? 💕
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We’re dating. SHHHHH
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😉
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Maybe she had the entire store’s supply of raspberry jelly rings. That’s what I’d do. i can’t get enough of them, but it has to be the dark chocolate coating. My grandchildren like the jelly fruit slices. Maybe you can explain to me why these are only found at the grocery store in the kosher section around Passover. At least, that’s the case up here in the north.
Any man with a Spider-Man lunch box is a hero in my book!
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Yeah, mine too. He was a big guy too, so he clearly is confident enough to have a comic book lunch box. Was probably his son’s.
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I’m sure he was Spiderman. Great smile on my face story, Susannah. 😁
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Takes so little to help and I never refuse it, even if I’m fine. Why deny the other person the opportunity to serve since, it lifts you right up.
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Good way to look at it. 😊
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One way, anyway. 🙂
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Now, if it was Batman …
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He’s a lot chicer in his basic black.
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How wonderful is that? Such an easy thing to help. So hard to accept it, for some.
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Yes, for some, indeed. Maybe she thought I was reacting to her age. I’ve learned some people get insulted as if you’re implying they’re incapable. Never the case of course, but you must be clever about it. sigh
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That is highly possible. One does not want to become “incapable” and a burden, et al, as one gets older. I guess until a certain point. It’s that in-between that is harder to digest.
Yes, you must be clever!
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I’ve had experience…been yelled at more than once. Live and learn.
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At least it hasn’t stopped you from still wanting to lend a helping hand 🙂
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I just make sure I dodge those bullets and not take the rejection personally, an art in itself.
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Smart woman.
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It took me years to hone that skill.
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It was worth it.
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You and Spider-Man were a blessing whether the woman recognized it or not. Y’all done good!
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Spider-Man has the loveliest manners.
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Susannah and NYC at their finest!
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Who knew Passover weighed such a ton. 🙂
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Wonder what all could have been in the bag. Could you see into it?
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Everything was wrapped, but the bag was packed. I gather she’s making quite a feast.
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I love the portrait you paint of people in New York through your daily anecdotes. It seemes to be a rough, tough-talking city where people still look out for each other and help in unexpected ways.
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This is true. Small acts of random kindness abound. It’s usually from someone simple and grandiose free. I always marvel at that.
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And the friendly neighborhood Spider Man strikes again. With a lovely assist from the Librarian, whose super powers know no bounds. She leaps tall chapters in a single read, yes she does.
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I love this…leaps tall chapters in a single read. 🙂
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You heroine you!
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I wish. Must be nice to be one. 🙂
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I’m in LOVE with this story! I wonder how she told it at her table? Oh, to be fly on that wall.
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She was a pistol, and guess who she reminded me of…:)
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My heart ❤
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Feisty and determined she was with that parcel of food.
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I think in the end you were able to meet with one more kind soul like you ❤️ It was a short and sweet read 👌
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Thank you. Appreciate you reading it.
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i loved this ! put a much needed smile on my face 😁
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I’m glad. 🙂
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