I don't have anything to give you today

Monday- early morning. 4th of July. Happy Independence Day, America, and thank you very much, the person who saved me the that day.

"Nothing bad will happen to me. It never does", I reassure my friend, as I leave her room at the Long Beach Hyatt that day. This statement would have been made sense had it not been pitch dark outside, at 2:15 AM. After hearing a lecture from her well-meaning family and cousins about safety, I carry my bags of clothes down the escalator and decide to drive home to Irvine after the grand wedding festivities. God, what a splendid way to enjoy the weekend! My best friends' cousin just got married to his sweetheart of seven years- I got to crash the wedding festivities- all 3 days of it! As my thoughts race back to the party, I do not realize that there are cops outside the parking garage. I think nothing of it, even after I do notice them. The parking attendant, a young boy, probably no older than I, and of slight build, approaches me, and tells me that he would accompany me to my parking spot on the underground level. "Why not?", I say to myself. As he walks with me, he helps me with my bags and proceeds to explain to me that he is doing this for my safety. Before I can ask any questions, I hear someone yelling behind me. I freeze in horror as I see a homeless man running towards me with something that resembles a baseball bat in his hand. More disturbing is the fact that I could barely walk, lot alone run in the sari and the six inch heels that I was wearing that day. The parking attendant runs in the other direction to distract the homeless man- they run around the parking lot twice, until my savior is able to get the cops to arrest the homeless man. He returns and apologizes to me for running away with my bag. "Are you kidding?" I exclaim, "You saved my life". He walks me to my car and tries to make small talk with me about the wedding party and the unsafe condition of Long Beach. I oblige and feel terrible as we reach my car. I have no money with me in my fancy clutch. I say to the attendant, "Thank you so much for helping me. I am really sorry, but I have nothing to give you today." "Oh no, please, ma'am. I just wanted to keep that guy away from you", he replies.

I hope that someday I am able to run into him again. Maybe then, I could repay him back for what he did for me that day, although no amount of cash would ever make up for his kindness. Thank god for small acts of mercy. Bless that boy.