Cat Calls Or Hot Chocolate

--by kristenh, posted Feb 14, 2012

I am a sales rep and I travel all over England to visit my customers. I will frequently arrange to meet a client first thing in the morning and I usually have several visits to complete in a day.

One cold February morning I was due to visit a store at 9am. I parked my car, bundled my scarf around me and headed up the street towards his shop front.

The small lane where his store was located was partially blocked by two large, ruddy faced workmen who were tearing up the concrete. I braced myself for the expected cat calls. I was up early, out in the cold, and probably about to be made a spectacle of by two men I didn't even know.

Then I stopped and remembered that my own father. Both he and my grandfather had spent much of their early careers working outside in similar jobs before they qualified and became engineers. I remembered how hard Dad worked, in all kinds of weathers; how he'd come home with sunburn or frostnip. I realised that if I was cold then these two guys were probably freezing, given that it looked as though they'd already been working for hours.

My customer's shop wasn't open but I was beyond being annoyed at his lateness. I went to a coffee shop around the corner, ordered myself a hot chocolate, then I ordered two more with whipped cream.

I made my way down the lane towards the workmen. One of them turned to me with a wide smile and greeted me with a joking "Oh lovey, you shouldn't have!" To his shock, I passed him the tray with the two steaming hot chocolates. I replied, "Maybe not. But it's too cold to be working outside today."

I got two looks of genuine thanks, and a timely reminder that it's as easy to be kind as it is to prejudge - but the former is so much nicer!

4654 Reads

Posted by kristenh
Feb 14, 2012
Comments (20)

Readers Comments

Bluxess wrote: Hot chocolate on a cold hard day from a stranger, just the right recipe to feel sunshine from within ... Thank you kristenh :-) Immense Blessings to you, Bluxess.

RMB333 wrote: That was VERY thoughtful of you, kristenh. 'WOW'! Hot Chocolate in icy cold winter! Great! Thank you for your warmth...Untold Blessings!

gelai wrote: You're so kind and thoughtful Kristenh..I salute you for you...God bless..

Regards,

Gelai

moral12 wrote: That is a positive way of thinking, and, I'm sure these guys appreciated your consideration of their work conditions; plus, the added bonus of hot chocolate! Kudos to you!

sabrina wrote: You made their job easier. They would have smiled all day. Thanks for your kindness. Bless you.Smilesss, Sabrina

uliatrus wrote: Thank you for sharing. Prejudice often times is much easier than kindness, but kindness is so much more worth it :)

MakeSomeoneSmile wrote: Good for you for not judging and taking action. I am sure it meant a great deal to them and definitely brought smiles! :)

annjav wrote: And the warmth goes on and on. You are warming our hearts with your hot chocolate gift! Thanks for sharing your story.

MamaPajama wrote: Such a thoughtful idea. My father also worked outside most of his life and probably would've been blown away if a stranger had done this for him. Thank you for sharing your story with us.

princessliz wrote: Thats really nice of you!

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