It was the kind of day when everything seemed to go wrong. George Harris, a bus driver, was almost at the end of his shift when thick snowflakes started to fall from the sky. They weren’t gentle snowflakes, but heavy ones, and the streets became slippery as the weather turned nasty.
“That’s just great! Of all days!” George muttered to himself as he gripped the steering wheel, the weight of the snow making everything seem even worse. His shift was almost over, but there was one last stop to make, and he was already running late.
When George pulled the bus into a stop, he saw the usual crowd of people boarding, all flashing their bus cards. But then, an elderly lady in a long, dark overcoat stepped forward. She looked around, her hands shaking as she fumbled through her purse.
George groaned. He could already tell this was going to slow him down, and he was in a rush to meet Angelica, his fiancée, and her parents for the first time. “Please, not today,” he thought.
“Good afternoon,” the older woman said, trying to smile politely. “I’m terribly sorry, I’m having trouble finding my wallet. I think it’s at the bottom of my bag.”
George’s patience wore thin. “Lady, just hurry up. We’ve got a schedule to keep,” he muttered under his breath, barely hiding his frustration.
“I’m sorry,” the woman stammered, her voice trembling. “I went into the city to buy an engagement gift for my granddaughter, and I must have dropped my wallet… Oh no! My phone’s gone too!” She sounded desperate, her cheeks pale with embarrassment, tears glimmering in her eyes.
George’s temper flared. “I’ve heard enough of these sob stories! Find your money or get off the bus!” he snapped.
“I swear, this is the truth!” the older lady pleaded, her voice shaking. “My wallet is gone, and I don’t have any way to get home! Please, I need help!”
George’s patience snapped completely. “Tough luck. Get off my bus!” he yelled. “I’m not wasting time for this!”
“Please, son,” the older woman said, her voice calm but filled with sadness. “I’ve had surgery on my knee. I can’t walk very far, and that’s why I took the bus. I don’t know what to do now.”
But George wasn’t listening. “I don’t care! Get off!” he shouted.
The woman slowly started putting her things back into her bag, looking small and helpless. George watched her in the rearview mirror as she stepped off the bus, lost in the snowstorm. For a brief second, George felt a flicker of guilt. But the thought quickly passed as he saw the time on the clock. He was already late!
As George drove off, his mind turned to Angelica. She was everything he ever wanted—beautiful, smart, and way out of his league. She was the daughter of a millionaire, and no one believed she would ever fall for a bus driver.
But she did. They’d met and instantly clicked. She’d stood up to her parents for him, but now, meeting her family for the first time, he wanted to make a good impression.
The drive to Angelica’s house felt longer than usual. He was anxious, worried about what her parents would think of him. When he finally arrived at the fancy brownstone in Tribeca, he adjusted his tie nervously before ringing the doorbell.
“I’ll get it!” Angelica’s cheerful voice called from inside. The door swung open, and there she was, her arms wrapping around him in a warm hug. Her perfume filled the air as she whispered in his ear, “Don’t be nervous, I love you!”
Angelica led him inside to meet her family. A slender woman, who looked a lot like Angelica, stood up and smiled stiffly. “You must be George!” she said. “I’m Meredith, Angie’s mother. My husband will be here soon. He’s picking up my mother-in-law.”
George smiled politely, trying to ease the tension. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Westerly. Your home is beautiful. Did you decorate it yourself?”
Meredith’s eyes brightened, and she began giving him a tour of the room, talking about the various souvenirs from their travels around the world. But George wasn’t really listening—his mind was still spinning with thoughts of his first meeting with her parents.
Then, his heart skipped a beat. On the mantel was a framed photograph of the elderly lady he had kicked off the bus. George felt his stomach drop.
“Oh my God!” he gasped. “Who is that?”
Meredith waved a hand dismissively. “That’s my husband’s mother, Angie’s grandmother. She’s such a trial sometimes… Can you believe she actually lost her wallet today?” she laughed lightly. “Or maybe it was stolen. She’s always so forgetful.”
George’s breath caught in his throat. The woman he had kicked off the bus—Angelica’s grandmother—was sitting in the Westerly home. His mind was racing when the front door opened, and a tall, middle-aged man walked in, his arm around the elderly lady’s shoulders.
“Meredith,” the man said, his voice filled with concern, “please, get some hot tea for my mother. She’s freezing!”
Angelica rushed over to her grandmother, hugging her tightly. “Oh, Gran Millie, you have to be more careful!” she said.
Gran Millie shook her head, her voice filled with worry. “I was careful. I think someone stole my wallet after I bought your gift. I had it at Bloomingdales, but when I got on the bus, it was gone.”
“Wait,” Gran Millie suddenly stopped, her eyes locking onto George. “You!” she cried. “What are you doing here? If some kind lady hadn’t let me use her phone, I’d still be standing in the snow!”
Angelica looked confused. “Gran, what do you mean? This is George. We’re having dinner with him tonight.”
Gran Millie wasn’t having it. “I’m not senile, Angie! This is the driver who kicked me off the bus into the snowstorm! He called me a con artist and told me to walk home!”
Angelica turned slowly to face George. Her face was pale, her eyes wide with disbelief. “You did that?” she asked, her voice cold.
“Look, Angie,” George said, his voice faltering. “I was late, and I didn’t know it was your grandmother…”
Before he could finish, Angelica pulled the ring off her finger. “Here,” she said, her voice breaking, “take it back. I can’t marry you. I don’t even know who you are anymore.”
George’s heart shattered. He fell to his knees, tears filling his eyes as he begged for her forgiveness. “Please, Angie, I didn’t mean it. I was wrong. I love you!” he cried.
But nothing he said could change her mind. She turned away, and with one last look, George knew it was over. He had lost her, all because of one cruel decision.
As he walked out into the snow, the cold biting at his skin, he realized that kindness costs nothing—but cruelty can cost you everything, including the love of your life.
What can we learn from this story?
Kindness doesn’t cost a thing, but cruelty can cost you everything. If George had taken the time to be kind to Gran Millie, he would have still had Angelica by his side.
Never turn away someone in need, because you never know who they really are. Gran Millie was in trouble, but George was too selfish to help, and it cost him the love of his life.
What do you think of this story? Have you ever made a mistake you regret? Share your thoughts below!
