A woman walked for miles in the middle of a thunderstorm to save her husband, but when she arrived at the service station, the manager refused to help her.
It was a dark and stormy night… Tara Wilson stared out of the service station’s wide window at the pouring rain and sighed. Just then, a streak of lightning flashed across the sky and the sound of thunder split the night.
Night duty at a gas station wasn’t exactly the exciting job Tara had been dreaming of when she went to journalism school, but unfortunately, she’d had to leave college to support her ailing mother. What Tara didn’t know was that the dreary night was about to become a lot more exciting.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
Even as Tara thought about her life, a frail figure was stumbling towards her in the dark, almost bent double against the force of the wind and the driving train. Tara was almost asleep when a gasping voice interrupted her reverie. “Please, oh please…”
Tara, who was seated behind the service station’s counter, jumped to her feet. In front of her, dripping equal portions of rain and mud was an older woman. Her clothes were plastered with oil, dirt, and mud, and dark streaks of makeup ran down her face.
“Ma’am?” Tara gasped. “I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you come in!”
The woman took another stumbling step forward and held on to the counter with desperate hands. “Please,” she gasped again, “I need your help…”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
“Oh I’ll just bet you do!” a harsh masculine voice interrupted. It was Tara’s boss, Mr. Anderson, the service station’s night manager who must have heard the woman enter from the back office where he spent his nights online on dubious sites.
Never deny a person in need of help.
“I’ve had enough of you derelicts walking in cadging hot food and coffee every time it rains.” Mr. Anderson snarled. “Get out!”
“Please,” the woman said in a calmer voice, and Tara noticed she had a sweet voice and an educated accent. “I need help, my phone is smashed…”
“Help?” sneered Mr. Anderson. “Did you drive here? Do you need gas? Or motor oil? Do you have money or a credit card?”
“No,” the woman said. “You don’t understand…”
“I understand you just fine.” the manager snarled. “Get out! No car and no money, you get nothing!”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
The woman pressed her shaking hands together. “My husband and I had a car accident, he’s lying unconscious on the road…All I ask is that you make a phone call!”
Tara made up her mind and stepped forward. “Ma’am, I’ll call 911 for you,” she said. She picked up the receiver of the service station’s landline and dialed. She frowned and picked up her cell phone then shook her head.
“I’m sorry,” she told the woman. “But the storm probably took down the phone lines and the cell tower. Where did you crash?”
The woman’s lips were trembling. “My poor John, oh my poor John…”
Tara came around the counter and put her arm around the woman’s sopping-wet shoulders. “Come on, Ma’am, I’ll drive you to him. We’ll take him to the hospital.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
The manager was enraged. “You most certainly will not!” he screamed. “You walk out that door and you’re fired!”
Tara looked at Mr. Anderson and said quietly. “Go ahead, fire me. But I won’t leave a man dying by the roadside.”
“Thank you, my dear,” cried the woman. “My husband is an influential man, you won’t regret this.”
“No matter who your husband is, I won’t regret it, Ma’am,” said Tara as she settled the woman into her car and buckled her seat belt. “My mother always taught us to help whenever we could, no matter who it is.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
With the woman’s guidance, Tara found the scene of the accident. The car was completely destroyed, and by the side of the road and covered with a blanket was an older man.
“John,” the woman cried kneeling by his side, “I’m here, darling, I found help!” The man opened his eyes and tried to speak, but he was obviously too weak. Tara and the woman managed to get him into her car’s backseat, and they drove to the hospital through the pouring rain.
As soon as the hospital’s staff had the man in hand, Tara asked them to take a look at the woman too, who was shivering from shock and exhaustion, then she allowed herself to sink into one of the waiting room chairs.
A while later, a tall young doctor came over and asked if she had been the one who’d brought the older couple over. “Yes,” Tara said. “Are they alright?”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Unsplash
“Thanks to you!” said the doctor with a smile. “Mrs. Smythe told me what you did. Her husband had internal bleeding, and another half an hour would have been too late. We’re also treating Mrs. Smythe for shock and hypothermia.”
“Mrs. Smythe, that’s the lady’s name?” asked Tara. “And they are going to be alright?”
“Yes, you saved their lives,” said the doctor, casting Tara an admiring look. “You’re a hero!”
“No,” said Tara. “Mrs. Smythe is the hero. She walked five miles in the rain to get help for her husband, and she never gave up!”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
As it turned out, Mr. Smythe was the owner of the local TV station, and his news team told the story of how Tara lost her job to save two lives. Mr. Anderson was mentioned by name, and his boss fired him for casting the company in a bad light.
When Mr. Smythe discovered that Tara was a semester away from her journalism major, he hired her as a junior reporter. She was earning a lot more than she had at the service station and doing what she loved.
Rumor has it that Tra has been dating a handsome young doctor she met in an emergency room one dark and stormy night, and he might be on the verge of popping the question…
What can we learn from this story?
- Never deny a person in need of help. Mr. Anderson wanted to run Mrs. Smythe off because she was dirty and he thought she was poor and homeless and it ended up costing him his job.
- Life rewards the kindest hearts. Tara risked her job to help Mrs. Smythe but got the job of her dreams and met a wonderful man.
Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.
If you enjoyed this story, you might like this one about a man who discovers his youngest son isn’t his and keeps the secret his whole life.
Use these 10 Amazon best sellers to solve icky problems
Need solutions to those pesky, unpleasant problems that seem to pop up at the worst times? Here they are! These gems have been tried and tested by countless satisfied customers. Let’s discover the products that will make life a little smoother.
1. This little silicone drain protector will effectively catch all the hair while you are showering. And it will hold securely in place due to the weighted stainless steel accent. The product is rust-resistant and long-lasting.
The device is a game-changer for hair clogs. It seamlessly blends with your bathroom decor. This little thing will considerably upgrade your shower routine.
Promising review:
- I love this drain protector! I moved and had to find a new drain catcher that could fit over the plug! I was skeptical because the reviews looked 50/50. But trust me, this is exactly what you need. It catches all of my naturally thick hair! — CurlyGirlFaith
2. Detect and clean all the hidden messes with this awesome UV flashlight. No more blindly cleaning carpets and furniture. The superb aluminum construction features a non-slip textured grip. The lighting time is impressive — the device can work up to 20 hours.
This product can also cover larger areas without weakening the light. It will make finding those hidden stains a breeze.
Promising review:
- Do you suspect your carpet has been violated? Don’t buy it if you don’t actually want to know. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. You can’t go back and unsee it, and the glow will be burned into your memory. I will preface this because you know you’re judging, and I don’t blame you.
This was a very unique set of circumstances, and the carpet will be replaced. I foster kittens for a local shelter, and my most recent crew has tenaciously refused to embrace litter box training, probably because they have a weird addiction to violating carpets.
Regardless, I purchased this light to see if my suspensions were correct, and they were. The little monsters were willy-nilly using the carpet to relieve themselves. This flashlight lit up their transgressions very clearly, and while I felt tearing it out was the appropriate solution, if I had been inspired to clean it, I would have known exactly where I needed to clean it. Hope this helps. — Ann Krummel
3. Check out this dirt-catching, double-layered litter mat! Its bottom layer is waterproof — no liquid will go through. The mat is slip-resistant and easy to move. This product keeps our furry friend’s paws clean and prevents any mess from getting on the floors.
The mat is easily washable and comfortable to maintain. The product is also really soft on paws. Some kitties can also use it to have a nap on.
Promising review:
- We keep our catbox for our 2 cats in the bathroom. There is nothing like stepping on little pieces of cat litter on the bathroom floor in the middle of the night and cleaning the random little pieces of litter all the time!
This mat has solved the problem! Almost no litter makes it to the clean floor now! Easy to empty, too! Great product!!! — Rich R.
4. No more smelly sneakers with these banana shoe deodorizers. They prevent and neutralize odor and absorb moisture. And, like real bananas, they will turn brown over time and use (you can use it as an indicator to replace the pair). Perfect for use after hiking, climbing, or cycling.
These goofy bananas are highly effective and long-lasting. They can last up to 6 to 12 months. The pouch is made out of natural cotton fabric. Each banana is filled with salts, minerals, and plant extracts.
Promising review:
- For someone who likes to commute to the city lightly, I usually don’t wear socks when it is extremely hot and humid during the summer days. I’d get home, and of course, my sneakers would reek from a day out!
These shoe deodorizers have saved the day by keeping my sneakers smelling great. I place them as soon as I get home. I usually leave them alone until the next day when going out, and the results are amazing! Smells great. — Neftali
5. Now you can keep your hand out of the toilet while cleaning it! Just use this stone toilet bowl cleaner. It has a long handle made from stainless steel and plastic. The pumice is 100% natural.
The product will serve you for a long time. Don’t forget to rinse the stone thoroughly every time. Easily stored.
Promising review:
- We live in an older home in an area with hard water. Our white toilets end up with a discolored deposit around the water line. Every few months, I would take a pumice stone and scrub them out. I hated getting my hand in the toilet water. This pumice stone wand allows me to scrub out the discoloration without getting my hand wet!
It works really well, but as all pumice stones wear away as they’re being used, the small size of the stones means they won’t last long. It comes with 8 stones, so that will still get me a lot of use. If you want to keep your hands out of the water, then this is a good buy. If you want to save some money and don’t mind getting your hands wet, then just buy a pumice stone. — Gypsy Blue
6. Keep your breath minty fresh with this oral care mist. The product features a sugar-free formula that doesn’t just mask the odor but solves the problem.
The mist actually kills bacteria causing bad breath. The packaging is handy and compact. And it is easy to carry the product with you at all times.
Promising review:
- I absolutely love this product and for reference in the picture the packaging looks a little bit weird because I peeled off the stickers, so don’t mind that. The spray is really good to use for bad breath emergencies, but I would not recommend using it all the time. It does make your breath a little bit stinkier in the long run because the alcohol in Listerine dries out your mouth. But overall, I definitely recommend this for emergencies. — Estelle
7. You’ll have no problems with chafing and blisters while using this all-natural solution. It can restore dry or cracked hands, feet, and faces too. The product goes on easily and works like a charm! The size is perfect for traveling.
The product contains coconut oil, cocoa butter, beeswax, and vitamin E oil. It is suitable for sensitive skin. It is also child-safe and is not tested on animals.
Promising review:
- The product is the perfect size to travel with or put in a pocket. Goes on easily and works like a charm. No problems with chafing while using this product. Great value for the cost.
There is a slight smell but to be honest, it’s very mild (have to hold up to my nose to smell it) and it’s not a bad smell. Would buy over and over again. I use this 2–3 times a week. — Christen Tasevski
8. This odor remover is safe to use around pets and children (although you should still make sure no one tries to taste it). You can comfortably use it on any surface: rugs, walls, floors, etc. The unique non-enzymatic formula doesn’t mask the problem but eliminates it.
And it can even help prevent the pet from returning to the spot! Warning: Make sure no one swallows it.
Promising review:
- Used as directed. Worked very well, still not entirely sure about the scent. It’s okay, but not super fond of scent. Getting used to it, though.
Does smell slightly like Christmas, as other people have said. A little pricey, but goes a long way. — Mary McMullen
9. Another perfect way to prevent clogging your pipes. This set of 2 rust-proof hair drain catchers will serve you for a long time. Each piece is extremely durable and features silicone edging. It makes the product stay safely in place, which is very handy.
The product is simple yet effective. This little thing will save you a ton of money on plumber visits. It is easy to clean; you can just use a simple tissue.
Promising review:
- I wish I would have gotten these a couple of months earlier than I did. These covers fit perfectly on both of my shower drains and really do help keep hair from going into my drains! So far, they have stayed secure with the good rubber outer ring and cover the whole drain without moving when you step on it or have the shower flowing onto it. I will be helping my plumbing by not having to clean the drains so much now. I recommend these covers. — natalie
10. Keep your shower clean with just one swipe using this wall-mounting shower hair catcher! And here is a cute pointy-eared design for all cat lovers. This product will effectively trap your hair and prevent pipe clogging.
This product is super easy to install and use. Spend less time on cleaning your shower and more time on something else.
Promising reviews:
- This thing has saved sooo many little arguments about my hair being left on the shower wall! It’s easy to use & has a strong grip! — Melissa Riggins
- Super easy to install and use. I was finding that my drain was clogging up a lot, so I figured I would give this a try. Love it! — Victoria
Buy the 1st item on AMAZON here
Buy the 2nd item on AMAZON here
We hope you like our picks and will enjoy using these products. They have all the potential to make life a walk in the park. Remember, sometimes the simplest solutions to daily struggles are the best.
Bright Side gets commissions for purchases made through the links in this post. Reviews could have been edited for length and clarity. The prices and discounts displayed in this article may change without further notice.
Preview photo credit Ann Krummel / Amazon, Kelsey / Amazon
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