Good Samaritan: Part 2: "Bush Push"

As I approached the second to last turn I would have to make before entering my community I saw an old dented car on the road between the left and right turning lane. The driver had opened his door as I passed him and turned left.

I looked in my rear view mirror and saw the man who had gotten out of his car, walk to the front of his vehicle and open the hood. White smoke spied out and surrounded the man in a cloak of vapour. I was sure it was radiator trouble.

A convince store lay a little ahead and I was able to get off the road as a speedster in a large white Ford F-250 truck zoomed by. I turned around to go help the stranger, just like a stranger helped me earlier. Lord knows I've been in those circumstances many times myself.

I neared the wreckage and asked the man "Radiator trouble?" to which he replied, "Yea. She crack." He was a Haitian man of about 50 or so years and he spoke English well enough for the average Bahamian to understand easily.

"Would you like some help?" I continued, "I can help you. What do you want to do? Do you have any Coolant? Any water? A container?"

He stammered as he spoke, "No fluids. Water? Push car and let cool."

"I don't have coolant but I can get water. You want that? Cool down radiator. "

"No. Just push car and wait for engine to cool."

"I can help you move the car" I stated. As I started to move to find a parking space he nodded, confirming acceptance of my help. I found one, turned off my car and got out, walked towards him and asked "Where do you want it?"

He rose his right hand and pointed to the clearing off the road directly behind his car. "There, push car."

I placed my hands on the hood of his car and pushed like a sumo wrestler would while he steered from the driver's side of the car. In a matter of about 30 seconds the car was off the road and out of the motorists way.

"What are you going to do?" I inquired.

"Let cool. Too hot. Cool down, then I drive."

"You can only go so far before she heats up again. You need to get that fixed. I recently had radiator trouble too and took my car to Toms Radiator. You know Toms? On Wulff Road?"

"Yea, yea Toms. I know Toms"

"I'd go there" I continued. "They can fix it good.
Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"No. Just wait 'till car cool. Thank you."

"You're welcome. It was my pleasure."

I started to move to go to my car when I heard the Haitian add, "God bless you."

I replied, "Thank you. Hope all goes well. Take care. Bye." I got back in my car, waved goodbye and continued the rest of my way home.

Just as I was helped, I help another. It made me feel really good to help someone I didn't know, someone I'll probably never see again. It felt good to pass on the "doing-good-to-others" feeling. Why don't you be a good Samaritan for someone today? Help spread being human, and be a good Samaritan.