A Good Story

"This one was email by a friend, it was a good stuff so i'm sharing it with you"

The man slowly looked up. This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat was new. She looked like she had never missed a meal in her life. His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many others had done before. "Leave me alone," he growled... To his amazement, the woman continued standing. She was smiling -- her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows. "Are you hungry?" she asked. "No," he answered sarcastically. "I've just come from dining with the president. Now go away." The woman's smile became even broader.

Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm. "What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily. "I said to leave me alone. Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma'am?" he asked... "No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I'm just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?"
The officer scratched his head. "That's old Jack. He's been a fixture around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him? "See that cafeteria over there?" she asked. "I'm going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile." Are you crazy, lady?" the homeless man resisted. "I don't want to go in
there!" Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up. "Let me go, officer,I didn't do anything." "This is a good deal for you, Jack," the officer answered. "Don't blow it."

Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner. It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrivedThe manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by his table. "What's going on here, officer?" he asked. "What is all this is this man in trouble?" "This lady brought this man in here to be fed," the policeman answered. "Not in here!" the manager replied angrily. "Having a person like that here is bad for business." Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. "See, lady. I told you so. Now if you'll let me go. I didn't want to come here in the first place."

The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled.. "Sir, are you familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?" "Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently. "They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms." "And do you make a goodly amount of money providing food at these weekly meetings?" "What business is that of yours?" I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company." "Oh." The woman smiled again. "I thought that might make a difference." She glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a giggle. "Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?" "No thanks, ma'am," the officer replied. "I'm on duty." "Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?" "Yes, ma'am. That would be very nice." The cafeteria manager turned on his heel, "I'll get your coffee for you right away, officer." The officer watched him walk away. "You certainly put him in his place," he said. "That was not my intent. Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this." She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest

She stared at him intently. "Jack, do you remember me?" Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes "I think so -- I mean you do look familiar." "I'm a little older perhaps," she said. "Maybe I've even filled out more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold and hungry."
"Ma'am?" the officer said questioningly. He couldn't believe that such a
magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry. "I was just out of college," the woman began. "I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn't find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment.. I walked the streets for days. It was February and I was cold and nearly starving. I saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I could get something to eat." Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said. "I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said that it was against company policy.." "I know," the woman said Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into troubleThen, when I looked over, I saw you put the price of my food in the cash register I knew then that everything would be all right."

"So you started your own business" Old Jack said. "I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered." She opened her purse and pulled out a business card. "When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr.. LyonsHe's the personnel director of my company. I'll go talk to him now and I'm certain he'll find something for you to do around the office." She smiled. "I think he might even find the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet. If you ever need anything, my door is always opened to you."

There were tears in the old man's eyes. "How can I ever thank you?" he said "Don't thank me," the woman answered. "To God goes the glory. Thank Jesus... He led meto you." Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before
going their separate ways"Thank you for all your help, officer," she said. "On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered. "Thank you. I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget. And...And thank you for the coffee."

OMG!!

This blog is not a scened from a prime time news but I'll just want to share this horrible story I experienced last Friday evening (June 5, 2009). Around 5:00 pm when my wife asked me through phone to fetched her in SM North so I leaved my two sons Yves (13) and York (10) in our house. I was early in the mall but luckily there was an on-going International 10-Balls Women Billiard Tournament (those ladies cue artist are really good) until my wife came then we proceed to National Book Store to buy some school supplies. After we buy all items on the list my wife phone my eldest son Yves to ask if he wants to add more but my son insist to talk to me.

So she gave me the cellphone and Yves talk to me in a mild manner but I sensed he was scared a little bit and told me " Daddy, may tao dito duguan dumaan sa bubungan natin at may hawak na kutsilyo." But before he continued the man grabbed the phone and said " Pare pasensiya ka na hindi ko gusto mangyari ito nagipit lang ako may humahabol sa akin." I was shocked but I have to deal with him. "Sino ka ba at bakit dyan sa bahay ko? Please lang huwag mong sasakltan ang mga anak ko" The man said "Walang mangyayari sa mga anak mo basta walang mangyayari sa akin." he answered back. Then I told him to calm down (but actually I was telling it to myself) in a diplomatic way I said to " hintayin mo ako dyan sa bahay at tutulungan kita." (Damned I can't believed I was into a hostage situation and it was my children)

So I grabbed my wife and told her " we have to go home now, there was an emergency situation in our house!" Of course my wife was already in a panic mode when I told her that our sons were taken as hostage. While inside the taxi we are both nervously assuming whats going on in our house. There are some worst scenarios that entered my mind but we have nothing to do but to hope and pray that there is no untoward incident happened there.Oh, the traffic seems to be forever so my wife keep on crying and shouting to the driver to hurry-up. Finally we reached our home and there was no kitbitzer (meron) around and that explained because rain was continuously pouring for almost a week now. Believed me it was the scariest moment of my life when I opened our door.When we saw our children watching TV there was a sign of relief to both of us. My wife hugged them while I was checking the man and found him in our kitchen still holding a knife and I noticed a gun tucked in his waist. When he saw me he apologised and asked for my forgiveness. I've told him to sit down (just to get his trust I have to listened to his stories) and I've learned the he was a former soldier (awol) and being chased by barangay tanod because he stabbed one of his drinking buddies, and in order to escape he ran into the rooftop all the way inside my house.

Just like what I promised him and after I've checked my sorrounding I told him he can go now. But before he do that he requested for a pair of slippers and an umbrella. (that son of a b____ don't want to soak in the rain) My only problem is how to fix my fiberglass roof of which he break in order to get in.I think I've learned something on an actual hostage crisis management.

I embraced my sons specially Yves (who happened to be diagnosed last week of a rare heart problem) and asked if they were alright? Proudly he said " Dad I remembered your instruction that in times of trouble I should be calm and focus". I've told him " you're such a smart and very brave!" and I am proud of you on how you take care of your younger brother and how to handled the situation".He smiled and said " No dad I'm not that brave I'm still scared of cockroaches".