Racial Entanglements
Okay, I’ll bite.
You’ve seen the many videos of gangs of black people doing foul things? They’re hordes of demoniacs who are directed by the powers/principalities that rule over black Africans and their descendants. Simple.
*****
May first was a busy day for me, so when I stopped to get gasoline and went into the convenience store to buy something else, my mind was on a third thing. The gas station I stopped at is a regular stop and the guys behind the register - all smiling, pleasant young men - call me by name.
On the day in question, I went into the store, bought water or whatever, smiled, said “hi” to Kamal, paid for the stuff, then went out, got in the car, turned it on, and pulled away.
But I had forgotten something - I was pumping gas.
Blessedly, I pulled away slowly, so when the unfamiliar noise of the pump pipes being separated came, it wasn’t a loud, dramatic screeching. But it was loud enough.
I braked immediately and saw in my right mirror what my air-head had wrought.
I retrieved the pump from my gas tank and walked back into the store. Upon seeing seeing this, Kamal was almost in tears.
“Oh Juliette! I’m so sorry but when this happens, my boss says that I have to get $275 from the customer! Anyone else would have just kept on driving. But you’re nice and you came back.”
I found myself trying to comfort him. I paid him and walked outside. Kamal followed and gave me a little shoulder hug.
“I hate that this happened to you,” he said. “Anyone but you. You are like a member of our family.”
I looked at him in shock. Good shock.
A Bangladeshi Muslim man considered me a member of his family. I can get that money back but what I learned on May Day was priceless.
Suddenly it was a very good day.
Love this heartfelt story. I have almost done the same thing more times than I can count....Distracted gas pumping. What a sweetheart Kamal is.. Reminds us to cherish the good in people and remember it is likely the norm, despite what the media says.
Ms. Ochieng, you rock! What a blessing I've had viewing your posts and notes. Thanks and know that our Faith is best shared by how we are. You blessed me today, particularly. My son runs a store like you spoke of: he relates to me about folks like you, and of so many more who are, sadly, the opposite. "Color" rarely is a part of his shaing about his love of his customers. You are truly seen, even by Muslims in your case, as a Child of God because of your love for our Lord Jesus. Thank you for being a Reflector of His Light! (WrH)