Sometime in the 1990s, I did consulting that had me visiting libraries across the US and Canada. One of the things I liked to do on these trips was try out the local public transportation.
“Neither rain, nor snow, nor sleet nor hail” or, more frequently cold, kept me off the local trains and buses. I was intrepid. So even on a cold February morning in Edmonton, Alberta, I waited on the platform to take the light rail to my session. The trip went well until I got to the other end of my ride and had to find my way to my final destination.
For some reason, I was particularly confused in Edmonton. I wasn’t going to arrive on time without help. I guess I approached the policeman. He put down his right front window and I leaned in to explain my predicament. He was very nice.
As he launched into the directions, I realized there was a reason I was confused. He’d start, stop and correct himself. Finally, he just told me to climb in.
He cleared his front seat which I believe was covered with his breakfast and I settled into the police cruiser. Front seat. Not where the criminals ride. However, I wondered if anyone watching me pull up at the meeting site in a cop car made the distinction.
If they noticed that I arrived in a police cruiser, they were too polite to ask. No one mentioned it. I guess it would have been more suspicious if he came back to pick me up.
I am adding him to my list of very kind strangers who have no recollection I ever existed but whom I’ll never forget.
© 2023 Jane Kelly
