Iwasridingmyson'sscooterhomefromthelibrarywhilehewasaccompanyingmeonhisbicycle.Iwaswearingaheavybackpackloadedfullofbooks.SuddenlythescooterhitarockandIwasthrownfromitandlandedflatonmyfaceontothepavement.Myconcernedson,whois8yearsold,rushedtomysidetohelpmeandbravelystoodnexttomeholdingbothhisbikeandthescooterasItriedtogetup.

　　Ithenrealizedthatmyfronttoothwaslyingonthesidewalkbesideme!Iscoopeditintomypocketandthenprobedmymouthwithmytonguetoassessthedamage.Notwantingtoalarmmyson,ItriedtogetupandreassurehimthatIwasokay.AsItriedtostand,myheadwasspinningandIfeltnauseoussoIbentdownandputmyheadbetweenmyknees.Carswerespeedingpastusonthemainroad,unawareofmylittledrama.Neithermeormyhusbandownacellphone(surprising,Iknow)soIjustfiguredwe'dwalkhomealittleslowly.Wewereabout3/4milefromhome.

　　AsIwasponderingallofthissittingonthesidewalk,anoldergentlemancameuptousandrepeatedlyaskedifIwasokandifhecoulddoanythingtohelp.Iaskedhimifhehadacellphone.HedidandIusedittocallmyhusbandtodriveoverandpickusup.OnceIstoodupIthankedthegentlemanandtoldhimIreallywasgratefulforhishelp.Hewalkedoff,butIcouldseehimwatchingusfromadistancetoseethatwewerereallyok.

　　SinceIwasstillshakenupbytheincidentwhenmyhusbandcame,Ididnothavetheclarityofthoughttoaskforthegentleman'snameoraddress.Afterwards,Isimplythoughtofhimasthereal"goodsamaritan"andIhavedonemybestto"payhiskindnessforward"toothers.

　　So,nameless,kindstranger--THANKYOU!Andforthoseofyouwhotakeyourcellphoneforgranted,rememberthatyoucanuseittohelpsomeonesomeday!