Gentleman

She had worked another late night in the office.

It wasn’t something that she liked doing, but it didn’t happen that often. Besides, she really enjoyed the rest of the job. It was particularly late on this occasion and she wondered about bus times. It would be too cold to wait around. She may have to catch a taxi. She was heading for the bus stop when it happened. The fact that she had slowed down as she passed the corner dress shop to gaze in at the window’s lit display of the latest fashions, made it easier for the stranger. One moment she was staring in and the next she had come face to face with a well-dressed gentleman of around forty. He just stood smiling at her.

“I do beg your pardon,” he said, raising his hands to indicate that he meant her no harm. “Would you be kind enough to come this way? It will only take a moment.”

With that, he took her gently by the arm and guided her into the side street where he pointed to a closed shop’s dimly lit doorway. Her compliance surprised her. She was somehow convinced that this man would do her no harm.

In the doorway, he said, “What a lovely night, just look at all those twinkling stars.” She felt the watch slip off her wrist, as he said, “Did you know that in New York people can’t look up at the stars?”

She looked up, the night was cold, but the stars where particularly bright.

As he gently took her bag, he went on, “I knew a chap,” he said, as he took out her purse, “he told me that he actually saw the stars above that city one night.” He spent a moment removing the cash he found, nothing else.

He gave a small chuckle. “I know,” he went on, softly easing the bag back under her armpit, “hard to believe.” He carefully removed her gold bangle and continued, “But it was true, you know. He was over there on business. The city had a black out and everybody could see the stars!”

He stepped back, patting his pockets, his eyes smiling. “Thank you so much. I do hope you have a lovely evening.” He turned slowly and continued down the side street.

Left in a daze, she gradually made her way to the bus stop. The timetable said she’d only have to wait five minutes. She had no cash. She would use her card, apparently they could do that now. For some reason she had stopped feeling the cold.

He really was a gentleman, she thought. She looked up.

To the empty shelter, she said, “And he was right about the stars.”