The Christmas Traveler

It was around 8:30 pm on a cold December night. The airport concourse was now largely deserted as I made my way toward the parking garage. I had been away on business and was anxious to get home. As I entered the garage and made my way toward my car, I suddenly became aware of someone sitting on the concrete wall that abutted the walkway.  

We made eye contact, and as I walked past her, she called out to me. “Excuse me, sir, could you spare a dollar or two?” 

For a moment, I thought of ignoring the woman, but something inside of me made me turn around and walk back toward her. She was a woman of color, middle-aged, I guessed, dressed neatly.  The hesitancy in her voice suggested to me that she was not used to doing this sort of thing. 

“What do you need the money for?” I asked. 

“I’m trying to get home,” she replied.  

I thought for a moment.  I had been bumped from an earlier flight and had a voucher for a free flight.  

“Where is home?” I asked.

“West Palm Beach,” she said.  

I now became curious about how a woman who was well-spoken and whose appearance was that of a business traveler could find herself penniless and in this predicament.  I could tell she was growing uncomfortable and did not want to share her story.  

I probed no further.  “Come with me,” I said. “I have a voucher for a free ticket, and maybe we can get you there tonight.”  

She followed me back to the airport customer service counter.  I spoke to the service representative and explained that I wanted to gift my voucher to this woman. The service representative looked perplexed and indicated that there were no more flights to Florida that night, but she could book her on a 7:00 am flight the following morning.  

I turned toward the woman. Tears were streaming down her face as she asked, ”How can I ever repay you for this”? 

I replied, “Say a prayer for my wife tonight. She is dealing with a serious medical condition, and it would mean a lot to me”.  

She nodded that she would. I then gave her $20 to get something to eat. She was going to have a long night sleeping at the airport.  

I have thought about that night many times since. I never asked her name and knew little of her. Was she an angel put there to test my generosity around the holidays?  I’ll never know. What I do know is that my wife’s medical condition did improve, and she is still with me to enjoy the Christmas season, and wherever that woman is now, her memory remains a part of it as well.