This heartwarming story gives a new meaning to great customer service!
There was a time in my life when I lived life to the fullest. I was a bright young thing with lots of energy. I skipped and cartwheeled until my heart was content. Now I’m happy just to get around. At 85 years of age, I realise that I’m lucky to still be in my own home. I’m truly grateful, and I have my loving, supportive daughters to thank for it. They’re around at 7 am before work each morning to prepare my breakfast and drop in every evening to bathe me before bed.
When I slipped in the tub a few months ago, they fought tooth and nail with
the doctors to stop them from sending me home. They knew I wouldn’t cope there. If it was a new, safer bathroom that was needed to get the doctor to sign the certificate stating that I was capable of caring for myself, then that’s what they were going to get.
Unfortunately, remodelling a bathroom to include safety rails, toilet aids and the rest of the bells and whistles comes at a price. An expensive one. I have no life savings. Although the house is paid off, my daughters buy my groceries and pay my bills. The house would have to be sold, and the money would be used to pay for a spot in one of those horrible facilities.
My girls insisted they could make it work, but I was doubtful. I didn’t want any sacrifices to be made on my account. They went ahead and got quotes for the bathroom anyway. They asked for pensioner discounts and requested to pay in instalments – but their pleas fell on deaf ears.
With every bathroom company that came to quote, the price seemed to creep higher and higher. The last man to arrive was the worst of the bunch. He sauntered in, stamping his muddy boots all over my floor and laughed at our measly budget. By his side, a young apprentice no more than 19 looked down at his shoes as the man chastised us for wasting his time.
My daughters spent the rest of the evening quietly packing up my things as I watched on silently from my chair in the corner of the room. Not long after they’d tucked me up in bed and left for the night, there was a knock at the door.
“Just a minute,” I yell as I reach for my frame at the side of the bed and start my slow procession down the long hallway. After a brief pause to regain my breath, I pull open the door.
The young apprentice from our last appointment stands before me. He has changed out of his work gear and is wearing jeans, a t-shirt and a cap – but still has his tool box in his hand.
“Good evening, Ma’am,” he says, grinning as he tips his hat and takes a step inside. The smile wipes from his face as he takes in my bare walls and packed cardboard boxes on the living room floor.
“Wow, your daughters don’t waste any time.” Regaining his composure, he adds, “too bad they’re going to have to unpack everything.”
“Sorry sir, I think there’s been some sort of misunderstanding…? We couldn’t afford to get the bathroom done.” I stammer.
“Maybe not. But I’m not going to charge you,” he replies.
“I don’t understand,” I say, still stammering.
“I’d like to give you your bathroom. So you can stay here. I’ll have to work at night so I don’t lose my job, and you’ll still have to pay for materials, but if you’re happy with that, then I can start now.” He removes his shoes and starts in the direction of the bathroom.
I reach out and grab his hand as he passes, thanking him over and over for his kindness.
“It’s nothing,” he tells me. “I’d just like to treat you the way I would like my mother to be treated.’
“But you have to make a living,” I protest.
“And I do that during the day.”
Suddenly understanding, I reach up and touch my other hand to his cheek. “You are a good boy.”
This was not a job to him. This was helping someone in need. And I would be forever grateful for his kindness.
He came as promised every evening after work for the next few weeks, working tirelessly until at least 10 or 11 pm at night until my bathroom was complete.
By this time, any sum would have been fine with me. I would sell my wedding ring if it meant I could re-pay the boy for his kindness. I had already imagined all the awful things that could have happened to me in the home had he not stopped by.
But my bathroom boy refused all my offers. He never thought twice about being paid. It never occurred to him to act any other way.
He saved this old woman.
