If It's Important, They'll Leave a Message

My cell phone was ringing.  Well, not really ringing.  It was playing my ringtone, “The Entertainer” from the film The Sting. 

I preferred the ringtone on my old phone, “I Wanna Be Sedated” by the Ramones.  But I still hadn’t figured out how to change the ring tone on my new Droid.  Bad me.

I picked up the phone and stared at the key pad.  The number on my caller ID didn’t look familiar.  It wasn’t even from my area code.  Wrong number? Telemarketing? Political call?

For a minute, I considered not answering.  If it’s important, they’ll leave a message, I thought.  Then curiosity got the best of me.

“Hello.” I said cautiously.

“Hi…um….Janice, this is K-----.....From work.”

“Oh, yea.  Hi K----.” I said with a hint of puzzlement in my voice. K had moved to town from Texas about three years ago.  That explained the odd area code.  She must still be using the same number as she had on her phone from Texas.  So mystery one was solved.  

That left one more mystery.  Why was K calling ME? 

K worked in my office.  We had several mutual friends.  We’d occasionally go to the same events.  Our kids attended the same school.  Since she arrived in town, I’d had occasion to sit at the same lunch table with K. I liked K and enjoyed talking to her from time to time.   

But I’d never been to her house.  And she had never been to mine.  And we didn’t exchange cards at Christmas.  And she had never called me at home before.   

Mystery number two would soon be solved.  “Well, the thing is my car is broke down at the corner of Empire and Linden.  I have three of my kids in the car with me.  I need to get the youngest from day care before six o’clock.  And I called everyone I know and you were the only one who answered your phone.”  She explained.

It took me a minute to process what K had just said.  Let's see.  She had a problem.  None of her close friends were available.  She needed my help.  And I was her last resort. 

“Oh, I see.”  I said.  “Umm.  Do you want me to call a tow truck or something?” I asked. 

“Um.  Yea.  Sure.”  K responded.

From K’s response, I sensed I missed something.  Then it hit me.  The problem wasn’t that the car was broken down.  The problem was that she had a car full of kids. It was freezing cold outside.  And she still needed to get across town to pick up the youngest from daycare within the next forty-five minutes.

“Is your car in a safe place?” I asked.

“Yea, we’re in a parking lot.”  She said. 

“Well, Ken is on his way home right now.  How about I send him over to pick up you and the kids?  He can take you to get your youngest.  Then you can figure out what to do about the car.”

K paused, “But I really hate to put you out like this. I just tried EVERYONE and you were the only one home.”

“It’s OK.” I said.  “We moved here from out of town too and we don’t have any family nearby.  I’ve been in situations like this before.  I know that when these things happen it’s important to have friends and coworkers to turn to.”

“Well, then, if Ken doesn’t mind, that would be great.” I could hear the sigh of relief in her voice.

Of course, when I called Ken, he was more than happy to shoot across town and help K.  A couple of hours later he was home and reporting that K and the kids were safe at their house and that a tow truck had been called to take care of the car.

For the next few days I thought a lot about my conversation with K.  And I think it’s because I learned some important things.

First, I learned that it feels good to help a friend.  Ken and I were both glad that we were able to step up and lend K a hand.  It made us feel like we meant something to someone.

Second, I was reminded that it’s important to ask for help from your friends and neighbors.  I don’t think it was easy for K to ask for help.  She’s a lot like me in that she is independent and self-reliant.  People like us tend to forget that we don’t have to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders.  There are always friends and neighbors who will help us if we ask.

Third, I learned to trust the little voice inside of me.  K had called a host of friends and neighbors.  But no one was answering her call.  And, when I noticed the unfamiliar number appear on my own phone, I was poised to ignore it.  But from somewhere in the back of my mind, a little voice encouraged me to answer.  I’m glad I trusted that voice.

Finally, I learned that I still need to figure out how to change the ringtone on my Droid.