When People Lack Humane Milk of Kindness.

I can’t remember how many times I have stopped (on the way to work or off-duty) to assist a motorist in distress, especially those who are unfortunate to get stuck in snow. I guess it’s the Nigerian spirit in me. Over there in the largest black nation in the world, a motorist in distress automatically anticipates almost every passerby and some other motorists to stop by in a bid to render assistance.

This morning, while on my way home after a snow-filled, terrible night shift, I was the motorist in distress.

I was almost close to home when my car got stuck in a pile of ice-turned snow on a link road from Delaware’s Route 1 to Pulaski Highway. I never knew I would be on that spot for the next couple of hours.

Within a few minutes, there was a long line of vehicles but in spite of my request for “just a hand” to push the car out of ice, no one made an attempt to step out. Incidentally, it was a single-lane road with no way out. They all simply waited it out. There was a guy who I thought would help. He rolled down his window to ask if I was going on duty or coming off one. Wondering if that silly question had any relevance to the situation at hand, I nevertheless tried to be nice by answering that I was off duty. “Oh…poor you!” was all he said while rolling up his car window.

By that time though, my uniform was soaking wet with the icy rain and I was about giving up to go “chill” in my car while keeping those horribly uncharitable people waiting “forever” in their vehicles. That was when a colleague pulled up behind the long line, saw me from afar off and stepped forward to assist me. Unfortunately, the officer alone was not able to get the car out even after several attempts.

Once again, I was about giving up when a motorist on the Pulaski Highway pulled up very close and adjacent to my car. He didn’t have to wait because he was on the highway. Yet, he came out to assist. Both gentlemen simply gave the car a push and I was finally out of the icy pitch.

At this point, I thanked the two gentlemen and especially, the strange “Good Samaritan” who, obviously was an Asian immigrant. He nodded in acknowledgement and went on to ask me a million Dollar question:

“But why didn’t those other guys come to your assistance instead of just wasting away their time…and if they couldn’t help you (a law enforcement officer) who would they help?”

I looked at him in gratitude and answered, “It’s because they lack humane milk of kindness… that’s all!”