Getting the back of your car smashed by an unlicensed and uninsured driver hardly seems a likely source of hope for humanity, but strange things happen.
A little while back I was heading for a romantic lunch with my betty, yes betty, on the Midlands Meander. I stopped at a yield sign to let someone through. Suddenly we felt our necks snap back in unison before the sound of screeching tires registered.
My shaking hands reached for the door to climb out and question what the hell just happened. A very apologetic man in his early 30s said he was really sorry, he was to blame and we will sort this mess out.
Being a permissibly untrusting man in this situation I would not let him leave until the police had arrived.
Two guys, the peeps I yielded for, stayed until the police came because they, like the rest of us have learnt trust usually results in pain or money loss.
The police came, after a long wait, and added little value to the scene. I had to direct them to check the crasher’s license, which he did not have and show them the crumpled and expired license disc on crasher’s car.
The po-po put him in the back of the van, which I feel really bad for now, and we all went to the station.
The contextual ramble is now finished and the grand optimism in people can begin.
This man, the crasher, phoned several times to check on my stiff-necked woman and what we should do to sort out the car.
He is a teacher in a rural school in Kwa-Zulu Natal, is getting married soon and plans to have a child only a few years after marriage to spend more time with his wife, whom he deeply loves.
After numerous phone calls he sent good news. His bank loan of R13 000, the damage was severe, was approved and he could pay the panel beaters.
I have third party insurance, he has none. But he as he had promised sorted everything out.
The real pain from all of this was my guilt at showing such distrust for people. We are entitled to be so defensive and suspicious, given daily news reports and stories from family and friends.
But it just so happens that every once and a while, people respond to situations how you believe, and hope you would.
