On Sunday, July 21, I had a scary experience that turned into something else: My car died while I was driving - brakes and steering locked - every icon on the dash flashing.
That’s never happened to me before. It stopped dead and I was jerked forward. The good news is that I wasn’t going 60 mph, like I had been about 30 seconds before; I was slowing for a red light. The bad news is that I was one car length away from a major intersection (routes 113 and 20) with no idea what to do and cars passing on both sides.
That’s when an angel named Antoine stopped his white tractor-trailer cab next to me on the shoulder and asked if I needed help. To make a long story short, after several unsuccessful tries to start the car, Antoine pushed me backwards - uphill - into a BP gas station parking lot. He didn’t even stop when we got off the road; he kept pushing because he wanted me to be in the shade.
It was 104 degrees and this poor man was completely out of breath and pouring sweat. I was worried he would collapse but he kept telling me he was OK. I wanted to give him money or at least buy him some water or soda, but he refused.
And here’s the part that had me in tears and still does when I think of it: I kept thanking him over and over. I said, “You didn’t have to do this, but you did.” He replied, “It was the right thing to do. That’s what you’re supposed to do, right? Do the right thing. I saw all these cars going around you and no one was stopping.”
I didn’t think to get his last name, but I want to acknowledge Antoine publicly for his supremely kind deed; for “doing the right thing.” He restored a lot of my faith in humanity and I fully intend to pay it forward.
Marianne Perry
Millsboro
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