The Good Samaritan

I did something wonderful (forward slash) stupid last night. The time was roughly 2am, and after an unusually manic first few hours, in which I was constantly on till with my colleague, Mr. Relaxed George, a man came in, clearly in some sort of discomfort, and asked if he could borrow the phone. Not wanting to get into any sort of argument, I obliged and handed him the small-shaped handset and thought nothing more of it. I went on my break.

5 minutes later, I was asked back by Mr. Relaxed George asking if I could have a word with the gentleman. Slightly bemused, I went out the front to talk to him, and he then asked if he could borrow my personal mobile phone, as the work one he was offered was, "being shit". He did look in pain, so to help him out, I handed him my antique 80's phone, and stood next to him, as he rang his friend to ask if he could come and pick him up. Apparently, he had just been discharged from hospital, (understandable), and he was stranded in Bedford and needed to get home to Biggleswade. He rang 3 people, none of which could be bothered to come and collect him, so he was well and truly out in the cold. I can only presume he had started to think of places to sleep rough for the night, just like I had done when I was stranded in Milton Keynes in February 2010, admittedly after a night out. I hadn't just been discharged from hospital...

I felt sorry for him. Very sorry for him. He was in pain, had nowhere to go for the night and was in trouble. It was almost laughable how the hospital had let him go in such a state, he was even wearing a head bandage. I offered to pay for his taxi, a whole £18.60, back to Biggleswade, and he reluctantly agreed, with no other alternative. I got £20 out the cash machine and gave it to him, and he seemed very relieved. He said he had to go back to hospital tomorrow, (which is now today), so he would come back and leave £20 with one of my colleagues for me to pick up. In all honesty, I highly doubt he will do that, but I don't think I've been scammed here. I genuinely do think I've done a good deed. Maybe karma will come back and help me?

Every single person I've told think I've been done over by a scam artist, but I don't think so. He gave me a friendly wave, as I walked back to complete the break I had started before completing a 2nd quick night in succession, which is almost a rarity. Tonight was ridiculously busy though. Apparently there was some free festival going on somewhere, which would make sense, but I had no knowledge about it, meaning I was expecting a slow and uneventful night, sitting in a chair, reading the paper. I didn't even get to sit down though, and I suppose that's a good thing.

I have chosen to stay awake for as long as I can today, as I am not working another night shift until Friday, (with only one afternoon shift to complete before then). I have finished my marathon of 8 night shifts in 9 days and I have a couple of days off to relax, and do what I like with! Cushty!
For now though, I will chill out before going to watch Mowsbury Athletic FC's first game of their new season, which, of course, I will play no part in. I am merely a spectator these days, given I am off in under 3 weeks, but something just tells me I won't just be a spectator...