A month ago or so on St. Patrick’s day, me and my friends were going out to a party. We were transferring onto a bus from downtown and I realized that I wasn’t really in the mood to go out and I really just wanted to stay home. I called a friend to pick me up and my other friends caught their bus. I waited downtown in the snow for about 25 minutes. As I sat on a bench outside of Old Quebec St. mall, a man with dirty, worn clothing wished me a happy St. Patricks day. I wished him the same. He sat on the other side of the bench and I was pretty nervous and scared and I was tempted to get up and leave a number of
times. He tried to start conversation a couple times and I would be polite but wouldn’t attempt at continuing it. After a while I realized that although he was pretty drunk, he was a genuinely nice guy. We talked for a while and he told me about himself. He was 23, lost his job, evicted from his appartment with nowhere to stay. He told me about his childhood, and how tough it was being in an unstable home but he stayed determined and kept going to school. I had been looking for a significant “Karri Hour” act for the longest time, and this seemed to be the perfect opportunity. I gave him a 20$ bill and the Karri Hour bracelet I was wearing. In return, he gave me a drawing that he drew and kept in his broken coat pocket. It sort of looked like something you’d find in a kindergarten class, but it was the thought that counted. Once I left he was very appreciative, and wether or not my help was significant or not I was more than happy to contribute.
Before the idea of Karri Hour was brought into my life, I probably would’ve gotten up and walked away as soon as he sat down on the bench next to me; I’m so glad that I didn’t. I hope that I can provide these
random acts of kindness as often as possible, and that those who receive them pass it on.
Parry Rickers
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