Category: Writers Block
What Goes Around, Comes Around
The man slowly looked up. This was a woman clearly
accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat
was new. She looked like she had never missed a meal
in her life. His first thought was that she wanted
to make fun of him, like so many others had done
before.
"Leave me alone," he growled... To his amazement, the
woman continued standing. She was smiling -- her even
white teeth displayed in dazzling rows.
"Are you hungry?" she asked. "No," he answered
sarcastically. "I've just come from dining with
the president.. Now go away."
The woman's smile became even broader.
Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm.
"What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily.
"I said to leave me alone.
Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any
problem, ma'am?" he asked..
"No problem here, officer," the woman answered.
"I'm just trying to get this man to his feet.
Will you help me?"
The officer scratched his head. "That's old Jack.
He's been a fixture around here for a couple of
years. What do you want with him?"
"See that cafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm
going to get him something to eat and get him out
of the cold for awhile."
"Are you crazy, lady?" the homeless man
resisted. "I don't want to go in there!" Then
he felt strong hands grab his other arm and
lift him up.
"Let me go, officer. I didn't d o anything.."
"This is a good deal for you, Jack," the officer
answered. "Don't blow it."
Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and
the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria
and sat him at a table in a remote corner. It
was the middle of the morning, so most of the
breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch
bunch had not yet arrived.
The manager strode across the cafeteria and
stood by his table. "What's going on here,
officer?" he asked."What is all this, is this
man in trouble?"
"This lady brought this man in here to be fed,"
the policeman answered.
"Not in here!" the manager replied angrily.
"Having a person like that here is bad for
business."
Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. "See,
lady. I told you so. Now if you'll let me
go. I didn't want to come here in the first
place."
The woman turned to the cafeteria manager
and smiled. "Sir, are you familiar with
Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down
the street?"
"Of course I am," the manager answered
impatiently. "They hold their weekly meetings
in one of my banquet rooms."
"And do you make a goodly amount of money
providing food at these weekly meetings?"
"What business is that of yours?"
I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and
CEO of the company."
"Oh.."
The woman smiled again.. "I thought that
might make a difference."
She glanced at the cop who was busy
stifling a l augh. "Would you like
to join us in a cup of coffee and a
meal, officer?"
"No thanks, ma'am," the officer replied.
"I'm on duty."
"Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?"
"Yes, ma'am. That would be very nice. "
The cafeteria manager turned on his
heel. "I'll get your coffee for you
right away, officer."
The officer watched him walk away...
"You certainly put him in his place,"
he said.
"That was not my intent... Believe it
or not, I have a reason for all this."
She sat down at the table across from
her amazed dinner guest. She stared at
him intently.
"Jack, do you remember me?"
Old Jack searched her face with his
old, rheumy eyes. "I think so -- I
mean you do look familiar."
"I'm a little older perhaps," she said.
"Maybe I've even filled out more than in
my younger days when you worked here, and
I came through that very door, cold and
hungry."
"Ma'am?" the officer said questioningly.
He couldn't believe that such a magnificently
turned out woman could ever have been hungry.
"I was just out of college," the woman began.
"I had come to the city looking for a job, but
I couldn't find anything. Finally I was down
to my last few cents and had been kicked out
of my apartment.. I walked the streets for
days. It was February and I was cold and
nearly starving. I saw this place and walked
in on the off chance that I could get
something to eat.."
Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember,"
he said. "I was behind the serving counter.
You came up and asked me if you could work
for something to eat. I said that it was
against company policy."
"I know," the woman continued. "Then you
made me the biggest roast beef sandwich
that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of
coffee, and told me to go over to a
corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid
that you would get into trouble. Then,
when I looked over and saw you put the
price of my food in the cash register, I
knew then that everything would be all
right..."
"So you started your own business?" Old
Jack said.
"I got a job that very afternoon. I
worked my way up. Eventually I started
my own business that, with the help of
God, prospered.." She opened her purse
and pulled out a business card. "When
you are finished here, I want you to
pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons. He's the
personnel director of my company. I'll
go talk to him now and I'm certain he'll
find something for you to do around the
office."
She smiled. "I think he might even find
the funds to give you a little advance
so that you can buy some clothes and get
a place to live until you get on your
feet. If you ever need anything, my door
is always open to you."
There were tears in the old man's eyes.
"How can I ever thank you?" he asked.
"Don't thank me," the woman answered.
"To God goes the glory. He led me to
you."
Outside the cafeteria, the officer and
the woman paused at the entrance before
going their separate ways.. "Thank you
for your help officer," she said.
"On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered.
"Thank you. I saw a miracle today,
something that I will never forget,
And thank you for the coffee."
Have a Wonderful Day. May God Bless You
always and don't forget that when you
"cast your bread upon the waters," you
never know how it will be returned to
you. God is so big He can cover the
whole world with his Love and so small
He can curl up inside your heart.
When God leads you to the edge of the
cliff, trust Him fully and let go.
good story