Thanks to a friend I don't know

To the Editor,

Please allow me to use your column to thank someone whose name I don't know.

It was Christmas Eve. I had picked up my mother and a friend of hers earlier in the afternoon and brought them to my house for dinner. After dinner we had watched a traditional Christmas movie, and then went driving around to look at all the lights. My grandson had come along. After taking the two ladies home ourselves and discovered the car was just about out of gas, I turned into a gas station on the north end of town. I was using my debit card to pump the gas, but the meter turned off after pumping $1.17 worth and would pump no more. I went inside and the attendant tried to run the card through the register. The card kept posting "choose lesser amount." Like most people I had overspent on gifts and groceries for Christmas, but knew I had some money in the bank, at least the $15 or $20 I was attempting to put into the gas tank. When the card refused even $5 worth of gas, I stood there at the counter, trying to decide what to do, telling the station employee I just wanted enough gas to get home on. From behind me a total stranger pulled out a $20 bill and laid it on the counter. In disbelief, I told him I couldn't accept it because I didn't know where he lived so that I could come and pay him back. He responded that is was "Okay" as he knew where I lived. It was after 10 p.m., on Christmas Eve. How many people are at the gas station that late on that special night? It went through my mind that this was a Christmas angel disguised as a man. Flabbergasted, I thanked him for his generosity, wished him a merry Christmas, pumped my gas and left. All the way home I didn't know whether to feel relief or regret. Regret because I didn't get him to write down his name and address so that I could repay him or even just pump $5 worth of gas and return the rest. After struggling with those thoughts for quite a while, I decided the man did not want to be repaid. I can't tell you how much this gift restored my faith in the goodness of people.

I almost never carry any cash in my purse, but now I carry a $20 bill hidden in a secret place so that if the opportunity arises, I can pass on the gift of my Christmas angel. Yes, that is how I will always think of you, and your generosity can go on and on.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Doris Smith

Poplar Bluff, Mo.