Alice stumbled out of her car covering her mouth with one hand and dabbing at the smeared makeup running down from her tear stained eyes with a crumpled up Kleenex. "I'm so sorry." She cried.
The guy in the pickup took a bit longer to get you, but when he did he was obviously pissed off. His chest was puffed out, his shoulders were reared back and he glared at her with his dark eyes.
She stopped in front of him, trembling and said. "I really am sorry. I guess we should probably call the Police?"
"You're damn right we should!" He said in a harsh voice as he pulled his cell phone from his shirt pocket. "You fucked up my fiancΓ©'s truck. You should really watch where the Hell you're going.
Alice stepped back nervously, her eyes darting from his massive arms, to the ground, to the blackened tissue in her hand and then back to him. "I'm sure there's a way we could make this right." She insisted as he pounded on his phone keypad.
At first I had to fight back a smile as I stood hidden behind my car. Alice was getting exactly what she deserved. I was about to jump in my car and drive off and go pay my rent when the guy spoke up.
"I need a grand." He said. "That should cover most of the body work."
"A grand." Alice said in a half scream. "That's outrageous; I don't have that kind of money. Plus, the damage can't be more than a couple hundred bucks."
He started pushing buttons again on his phone. "But just remember, you're gonna end up with a pretty hefty ticket and your insurance will go through the roof."
Alice crossed her arms and tapped her right foot pensively. She looked stunning today in a short sundress and sandals with her brilliant hair shinning in the sun. "Fine." She said finally. "I'll get you your money, but its gonna take me a day or so."
The guy gloated self-righteously as they exchanged information, and as much as I didn't want to, I started to feel sorry for her. He had been kind of a Dick, and even though it was obvious that Alice was missing a few marbles, I didn't think she deserved this. She was just trying to get by like the rest of us.
When they had finished the dude squealed out of the parking lot.
As foolish as I knew I was being I decided to approach Alice. I figured she would be embarrassed to see me, but instead she ran and threw herself in my arms.
"Oh my God!" She said wrapping her arms around my neck and covering my face with sloppy kisses. "You have no idea how shitty my day was until just now." She looked away sheepishly. "I just ran into this truck and..."
"I saw the whole thing." I said interrupting her with a smile. "I'm just glad I can be here for you."
"He wants a thousand dollars by Friday and I have no idea how I'm gonna get it to him. I just paid most of my bills and I don't get paid for another week." She said through sadness in her eyes and a stammering lip."
"Well, I could help you out I guess." I said tossing my shoulders back. "I have half of it in my pocket, and I can get the other half from the ATM inside."
"Oh no!" She said pulling away from me. "I couldn't expect you to do that. I'm sure you have plenty of stuff to worry about without me being a burden."
"It's no big deal. I won't even notice it." I said trying to fight back a look of pride. "Follow me." I said taking her hand and leading her inside.
"Here you go." I said taking the money from the machine and handing it to her. "Now you have nothing to worry about.