It was around 11.00 pm when I headed out of Olive Garden restaurant to my car in the parking lot, this sunday night. As I sat in my car I noticed that there was something sticking out of wiper on windshield. My first guess was it could be another of those irritating flyers. But it didn’t seem like it – there was something definitely hand written on it. Was it a parking ticket? I shivered at the thought – it was dark in the parking lot, and mine was the only car out there in the lot. Maybe I parked beyond the time limit? Maybe I should not have parked in this space at all? I had definitely not parked incorrectly, which was a relief, so that ruled out wrong parking. On an ordinary day, i would have simply started the car, and driven away, letting the wind take care of the flyer. But this one seemed different, and I had to see it. Getting out of car again, I reached for the paper stuck between the wipers.
It was a hand written note which read:
“I am so sorry I bumped into your car. It was dark and I was in a SUV, so I couldn’t see how far I was backing out. Please call me at XXX-XXX-XXXX, and I am XXXXX. I am so sorry again”.
It was then I looked at my car around and noticed it – my rear fender had bent in and clipped out of the bumper. There was a big hole in that space and I could see the internals inside. Clearly, the impact had been hard, and surely of an SUV. Not again, I muttered angrily. Less than a month, and this was my second accident on the car. Muttering expletives at whoever it was who had done it I read the note again. And it occurred to me: That person was at least honest enough to leave a note about it.
I called up the number but it went to a voice mail. With nothing left to do, I called in the cops, got a report and went my way. Next morning, I got a call back from the person – it was a lady, and she again apologized for damaging my car. I was promptly given all her insurance information, and assured her complete assistance in getting my car fixed. Today my insurance company informed me that everything had been taken care off, and her insurance will fix my car.
Except for the name, I don’t know anything about her, though I do know that she was probably very honest. I put myself in her shoes and thought, if I had been in her shoes, would I have done the same? Perhaps there were people in the parking lot when this happened, hence she left me a note maybe? Or maybe it was dark, and she could have run away without anybody noticing, but she decided to stop and be honest about it. Would I have done such a thing if this had happened to me? If there was nobody in the parking lot when I bumped into a car, would I be honest enough to leave a note like this lady did and assume my responsibility.
The thing is, I really dont know if I would do it or not. Maybe I would. May be I wouldn’t. That’s why I appreciate and thank the lady, who did.