Because of You

I pulled up next to the gas station pump and inserted my credit card. Waiting for the gas pump to go through all its steps in order for me to actually pump the gas, I do what I always do.

I people watch.

It’s amazing how many of my characters in my books are from just these types of watch and sees.

But I digress.

There is a woman in the car facing me that is rifling through her front seat. She is pulling up the center console, going through her door, opening the glove box. I could see the frustration. I figured she had lost her phone because, well, I do that all the time.

I pull out my credit card and begin pumping gas.

I lean onto my car and keep a side eye on the woman. Which is when I begin to notice she is driving on a spare tire, the paint on the car is either missing or chipping, and from my very novice knowledge of cars I would put it at over 15 years old with well over 150,000 miles.

She puts her head on the steering wheel for a moment before she sits back, squares her shoulders, opens the door and gets out. She leans into the car, hunting again. She has her phone in her right hand.

So, she didn't lose her phone.

“What is she doing?” I think to myself.

And then, as if a lightbulb goes off in my head I realize she doesn’t have any money for gas.

Bless.

From the looks of things, she’s in her early twenties. She’s wearing a shirt from a local chain grocery store. With a nametag.

“Hi. Do you need money for gas? I’m happy to help.”

She stands up, looking at me with confusion.

“I noticed you seemed to be hunting for money. Would you like me to fill you up? I’m happy to do it.”

“Seriously?”

“Sure. What level?”

“87”

I insert the business credit card I use for all my book activities and wait until the processing is complete. I open the gas tank and press the button before inserting the spout. I click the lever in place to hold it.

“There you go. You can handle it from here?”

She simply nods. I walk back to my car, which is still gassing up. I was down to fumes.

I finish and glance over to the next pump, making sure all is going well. She finishes up as I am climbing into my car.

“Hey, lady! Thank you. I mean it.”

“No problem. Happy to help.”

And I meant it. It was no problem. And I loved helping her. I imagine it brightened my day more than her own.

It was all because of you. You buying my books. I get to do stuff like this all the time because YOU buy my books. One of my main goals with this book journey is to be a good steward of my book sales through philanthropic giving.

Over the last two years, I have been able to do random acts of kindness and targeted giving from book sales.

The gas in the tank pushed my philanthropy for the residents of Sumter County to over 3000.00.

Maybe not much, in the scheme of things, but that’s a LOT of books sold.

And I couldn’t have done it without you.

To see how I choose to support the local community, simply click

This and That | Whisperwood Holdings

You are my favorite people.