Quicker On the Draw
Recently on a trip to Alaska to visit old friends, escape
the south Texas smoldering heat and do a lot of much needed
fishing I had a short layover in the Houston terminal.
Gravitating to a food bar I got a large cup of iced tea and
had a seat to wait the hour or so. The whining and crying
didn't go unnoticed, for sure, by me and the other patrons.
A young mother, must have been in her twenties with a babe
in arms, a maybe two year old and a four year old were at a
nearby table all sharing a soft drink of some kind. The baby
was crying loudly as it refused a bottle with water in it.
The other two were complaining as they stepped out from
their table to see what others were eating then returning to
their mom complaining they were hungry. She was trying to
hush them and telling them they would eat when they got to
the base that evening in El Paso.
A couple of service guys, both with crutches, were sitting
near me and I overheard one tell their waitress to get the
kids something to eat and they would pay for it. The
waitress brought milk, cereal and some other things - plenty
to fill all of them up. She then went to the soldiers to
collect.
I was just opening my mouth to call her over, saving the
wounded soldiers the trouble and expense when an elegantly
dressed woman stood up from her table. She, as well as her
group looked familiar. Maybe, I thought, I had seen them in
the movies or on TV at some time in the past. She quietly
said to the waitress, "Don't you dare take those service
men's' money. I will pay you for theirs as well as the
children's food."
And she did, as I sat there ruminating, my money still in
the holster. The little girls went straight to the lady and
gave her hugs then to the soldiers and did the same. I
really must practice more. I could have had those hugs had I
been. . . "quicker on the draw".
Copyright (c) 2003 by Mark Crider
Mark@cccoating.com
Sandra and I live in West Corpus Christi Texas on our
sanctuary that is frequented by folks on the 'Birders
Trail'. Migrating hawks roost and share the property with
ducks, swans and other nervous inhabitants when they are
around.