Grand Central
I tried not to sound too much like a refugee.
I ended up in Grand Central Station. All I had to decide was what to do and where to go next. As I stood there, a stranger came up and asked me: “Do you need any help?” She was in her early twenties, a fairly plain looking office type but she had a kind face, so I smiled and said thanks and that I wasn’t sure where to go next.
“Well, you looked kinda lost when I saw you,” she said. “My name’s Annie, by the way. I told her my name and the conversation continued, before she offered to buy me a coffee and we found ourselves at the Red Fleece Café nearby.
She seemed trustworthy, so I told her my story. How I had arrived in New York by bus, lost all my money and luggage but thankfully not my passport, although I missed my flight back to London. I said I would call my parents to wire me some money and then fly home. I tried not to sound too much like a refugee.
Despite protests from me, she called up her father, who came and picked us both up. I stayed for dinner with the family, had a shower, and the parents insisted I take a change of clothes from their son’s wardrobe before the father drove me out to JFK. They were so kind, I almost cried when I said goodbye. Later, when I put my hand into the son’s pants pocket, I found $200 with a note saying: “Pay me back when you can.”
I just could not believe my luck. Three times this week that trick had worked but boy, was this the best result yet.
About the Creator
Raymond G. Taylor
Author living in Kent, England. Writer of short stories and poems in a wide range of genres, forms and styles. A non-fiction writer for 40+ years. Subjects include art, history, science, business, law, and the human condition.
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More stories from Raymond G. Taylor and writers in Fiction and other communities.
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Comments (4)
You got me! Completely sucked me in🤣🤣🤣 I thought this was for the Small Kindness challenge at first, but should have realised it wouldn’t be from your perspective! Such a kind gesture from her and the family- as sucked in as I was! Very clever 👏🏾
Whoaaaa, that plot twist punched me in the face so hard hahahahahaha!! See, this is why no matter how much I feel sorry for someone, I'd still feel so reluctant to help them. We just never know who's tryna cheat us, lol
I lost my wallet and train ticket in Grand Central the third week after I moved to New York. Also, I just gave money to someone who asked me, and I was thinking about time I’d found out I was fleeced. Great story, very realistic.
Oh boy! What a slimy character. However, you executed it very well. Your character development is exceptional and the plot unfolds perfectly. Great work.