Unexpected Help

Last Friday, on my way to College I had a wonderful experience of unexpected help. I love to bike to the college in the morning- and I like to bike fast. This morning, just at the corner Lincoln Boulevard/Ozone, the chain of my bike jumped out and this kind of bikes, cruisers, don’t have front brakes. That’s exactly what I needed. I nearly crashed into the wall at my right side but somehow was able to stop just before. I never fixed the chain before but luckily my friend showed me weeks ago how to do it. So I started to fix the back wheel , it went ok. I just wanted to start with the front part, holding the chain it in my right hand, full of grease, when a young man crossed the street toward me. “Can I help you?” I shook my head no. “Thanks, I’m fine”. He came closer, and without asking again he just raised up the back wheel, fixed the front part, moved the pedals. “I did this a hundred times, I’ve been biking all my life. Here”- offering his left arm - “clean your hands, this sweater has to be washed anyway”. He wished me to have a great day and disappeared. -It took only two minutes, maybe three. But this unexpected help from a stranger changed my day from a good into a GREAT day. Thank you, stranger.