It was just my luck to be caught in a damn blizzard on my way home from my job as a nurse at Detroit General Hospital. I was just outside Madison Heights, on interstate 75, and a just talking up a tizzy to myself. “Damn, girl, your black bod is way out of its tree for you to be driving in this stuff.”
I could hardly see the cars ahead of me. “Momma,” I screamed as I swerved to miss a jack knifed truck. “Bump, bump, bump, “ sounds came from my car as it went off the road, down the embankment, and came to rest in the medium between the lanes.
“I am going to freeze my black butt for sure, what with the light jacket I have on,” I said to myself, out loud. Got out. Was relieved to see that there was no damage to my wheels. It was my baby, a 1998 red beetle.
A very brave soul, driving a gray ford, pulled to the side of the road. Getting out, the man hollered to me, over the din of the passing traffic, and howling wind, “Should you be in need of a ride, I will be happy to take you somewhere.”
I was one happy girl. Grabbed my purse, and begin to climb up the bank to his car. Half way up, my nursing shoes, with no tread, lost traction. My feet went out from under me, and I fell on my butt, and then rolled over twice, covering myself with snow.
That man was over to me in a flash. He helped me up the slope and into his car. He put his suit coat around me. As we proceeded up the interstate, I noted that the suit coat was a black, pin stripped, wool blend, that was very expensive. In the pockets were pens, note books, and a calculator.
He was intent on his driving and had his eyes on the road. I studied him. A very distinguished looking white man, who appeared to be about forty. He was shorter then I and I would guess that he would weight one hundred and sixty pounds.
“Miss,” he said, “Where would you like to be taken?”
“Take the next exit. Go right at the stop sign. Third light, go right again, and I will show you where. What is your name? Mine is Jennifer Strong.
“Hilton Alexander.” Right then, the announcer on the radio declared; “ Governor Hogan has declared an emergency. All vehicles are to get off the highway as soon as possible. The interstate is now closed.”
“I have a real problem. I have a motel reservation in Midland tonight. I have no idea where I will stay,” my Good Samaritan said more to himself then to me. I did not say anything for a minute. “You can stop at my place for the night. I live alone in a small apartment.”
He looked at me, with a warm smile. “I would not want to sully your reputation.”
“Man, that is the nicest thing you could have said to me. No worry, I have the only apartment over a small store. None of the neighbors know me, or would care. Not sure just where we both will sleep, since I have just one bed, and no couch. You can be a chair potato”
“Anything is better then trying to sleep in my car.”
“I can keep you warn, and feed you something. I owe you that for your courage in stopping in that mess to pick me up.”
After we entered my place, I told him to catch a chair, while I changed my wet clothes, took a short, warm shower, and cooked up some hot food for us both. I had been up since 5:45 AM, and it was now 5:00 PM, so I was tired.
With my cotton PJs on, and my robe, I said to him, from the small kitchen, “ You shower, and change out of your wet clothes. I will have some chops, mashed potatoes, and green peas ready when you finish.”
“You are very kind.”
“I don’t know what his is, or where he is from, but he sure is a gentleman,” I said to myself as I unwrapped the four chops. It was nice, really nice, to have someone with me on a dark night like this. The wind was howled like a banshees, and the snow was beating on the windows.
After the meal, he volunteered to clean the dishes, pots and pans. “Whoa, where do you find a man like you?”
As we sat sipping brandy, I asked the man to tell me about himself.
“I am with a company that supplies computer programming to companies, such as Dow Chemical, that I was going to visit in Midland. I hold a doctorate in electrical engineering.
