The power company tech went there to disconnect the power at 2428 Birch Street. He was starting the disconnect when he heard a noise behind him so he turned around. An old man with a walker was approaching him and when he came near he said, “You going to cut off the juice are you sonny? Me and my wife won’t be able to see anything and what little we have in the fridge will go rotten.” The power company tech knows the rules –can’t accept money, don’t listen to sob stories, just cut and run! But something about the old man stops him in his tracks. He asks, “Are you James Hammond the owner here? “Yes I am,” he replied. I’ve lived here for over forty years.” The tech wanted to ask him how old he was but he could guess at the age, probably about eighty to ninety years old. He was nicely dressed in a navy blue button down shirt and blue jeans and he had neatly trimmed white whiskers on his kind face. So instead he said to his own surprise, “I’m not here to cut the power off, I’m just checking the meter to see if it’s working okay. Seems to be fine, I'm sorry to bother you and you have yourself a nice day okay?”
He gathers himself and hastily retreats to his service van to call his supervisor. As soon as she answers; instead of making a trouble report the tech found himself appealing to her for help for the old couple. His voice gets choked up and to his surprise tears flood his eyes during the call. His supervisor hears something and pauses to asks him, “Are you alright you sound like you’re... crying?” “I’m okay boss, he replies.” “You don’t sound okay,” she says. “Really struggling now to continue on he says, “I know I’m breaking the rules boss but it’s the residents here. They’re just... so old! I just can't bring myself cut them off! I’m sorry about this boss.” He expects a reprimand from her but to his surprise she calls him by his first name and says to him; "It’s okay James I guess I can call our special needs unit and maybe they can do something for them.” “Thank you boss, he manages to croak out, I...I’ve got to go now.” “Sure," she says gently. "Just go on to your next job you'll be alright. I’ll see you at shifts end this evening okay James?" "Yes, thank you I sure will,” he says softly and hangs up. But his tears haven't stopped streaming down his face and his emotions seem impossible to control.
A little while latter while driving to his next job James couldn't help but wonder; "What’s wrong with me! Why did I get so emotional? This is not acceptable behavior for a pro like me." Then he breaks into a big warm grin mirroring the warm glow he feels inside and from then on he had himself a nice day. The kind of nice day he hoped old James and his wife would be having too. He also said a quick prayer for them. Something like; God bless the elderly, may no harm ever come to them especially through me.
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