Can I Trust In America??

I really hate the way America has changed. It is really terrible that you can’t trust people enough to help them out. Especially this time of the year when I really want to help.

As I was driving to the store tonight in the pouring rain, I saw a couple walking down the street. This part of the street has no sidewalks, and at this particular point, a very narrow shoulder. Because of the pouring rain, the ditches were filled with water. This couple had coats on and hats pulled up tight. I figured if they were out in this weather, they were not just taking a casual walk. I wanted to stop and ask them if they needed a ride. It would only have taken a second, and they were probably going in the same direction I was. But I didn’t stop. With their coats on and hats pulled up tight, I couldn’t tell if the couple was male or female, young or old. I couldn’t tell anything about them. They could have been an older couple needing a ride to the grocery store. Then again, they could have young punks waiting to rob someone, or worse. I hate not being able to trust people enough to help them out.

When I got closer to the store, I saw a man with an umbrella and a handmade sign. “Homeless vet. Need money for food. Laid off.” I wanted to stop. I wanted to help. But I didn’t. I didn’t know if he really was a homeless vet. I didn’t know if he would use any money I would give him for food. Or would he use it for drugs or alcohol? I couldn’t tell. I hate not being able to trust people enough to help them.

I remember growing up, my parents would help anyone that needed it. They didn’t worry if someone was going to hurt them or scam them. They just stopped and helped. My dad was always giving rides to hitchhikers. My mom was always stopping to help someone who was broke down beside the road. If they were out of gas, she would put them in the car and take them to the nearest gas station. They were able to trust people enough to help them.

As I drove into the parking lot, I thought about what my parents would have done if they had seen the couple walking in the rain. I thought about what they would have done if they saw the man with the sign. I knew what they would have done.

I turned around in the parking lot and drove back down the road. The couple was still trying to brave the rain. There was at least a sidewalk now, but they were still getting soaked. I pulled up beside them and asked them if they needed a ride. As they pulled back their hoods, I could tell that they were indeed an older couple. I was still a little wary.

“We didn’t think anyone was gonna stop,” the man said. “Thank you so much!” the woman said. I asked them where they were going, and they told me that they were going to the same store I was headed to. As I drove back into the parking lot, I saw the man with the sign. I pulled up to him and stopped. I handed him the few dollar bills I had in my purse and said “God Bless,” and drove on.

I dropped the couple off at the store, and went and did my shopping. When I was done, I searched for the couple, so that I could give them a ride back to their home. I didn’t want them walking in the rain again. I searched all over the store and couldn’t find them. Sadly, I drove home, driving past the man with the sign. I looked for the couple along the road, but again didn’t see them.

I went on home and thought about the evening. I hoped that I made my parents proud. I trusted people enough to help them…