Chance encounter…not

I am driving to the Dallas airport at five-forty-five. The sun was not out yet, and I was looking for an IHOP I knew was close by on the left side of Belt Line Drive in Addison, Texas. There is a Denny’s up ahead on the right. I do not like Denny’s for breakfast. Generally there is too much oil (okay grease) for me. I wanted something with less fat in it.

As I drive, a need to eat at Denny’s takes hold of me. I guess Denny’s is as good as IHOP. A couple of eggs, some well cooked bacon, and toast. Before I know it, I am making a hurried right turn into the Denny’s. It’s not even six am, and I am wondering if they are open.

As I open the door, I know without a doubt I am to meet someone inside the building. There is exactly one customer sitting against the far wall, in the corner, trying to be invisible. There is no doubt in my mind I am supposed to request that I be allowed to sit at her table. Not my thoughts, but thoughts that are filling my mind. She and I have something important to talk about. What that will be, I have no idea.

I am seated two booths away in the same section. I do not have enough courage to do what I knew I was supposed to do. After a few seconds I make up my mind to ask her if I may join her at her table. I look over my left should to make eye contact with her, but she is sitting against the wall on my right. I turn around…another failed attempt, this is not easy. As I eat my breakfast, a waitress walks past me with a purpose.

An argument ensues over the food and the bill. The woman complains the there is something wrong with the food, and she could not eat it. The waitress says the food was fine and she should pay for it. I know this is not a part I am to play in this scene because I am not at her table. It ends with the woman insisting she is not paying for the meal, something is wrong with it. The waitress walks away to the kitchen. The woman in the corner booth walks by me with determination. A waiter asks if she is going to pay and she says no, she is not, but she stops. After about thirty seconds she leaves.

When he comes by with refill coffee, I tell him, I will pay for her meal. He tells me no, and says this is a common ploy of homeless people, and they see it all the time. He says there was a man with her most of the night and he left just before I walked in. (Of course, it makes sense, he was her place holder) He does not mind that they can not pay for their meal. He does mind the extra work that the situation invokes. He fills my cup and leaves. I am feeling miserable, I didn’t do what I knew I had to do.

I missed my time with this woman and now I am going to spend my day wondering what business we had, and what was my part in her life, or perhaps her part in mine. As I finish my coffee, the woman comes back in, and walks towards the bathroom. I assume she is going to hide out in a bathroom stall for a while until she is found out and is forced to leave. How can I speak to her without being a complete fool, enters my mind. I can’t knock on the door, I can’t walk in the woman’s bathroom and explain my need to talk with her. I am feeling lost, because time is getting short and I have to get to the airport.

As I pay my bill, I offer once again to pay for her meal, and I am told no. They are really adamant about this for some reason. I would say sure, it’s is seven bucks, plus a tip! As I turn around I see the woman. She is sitting on a bench by the bathroom, not hiding. It is now or never, and I have to see this compulsive feeling through or wonder forever.

I walk towards her and speak. Her eyes are stormy angry, and I can see what I said has not penetrated her anger. Suddenly her eyes grow soft and we share a moment of staring into each others eyes. I speak another few more words. She say’s, “Thank you.” As I turn away, she calls out, what is your name? I turn and say Michael…. It was the best I could do. The woman softly says, “Thank you Michael.”

A minute or so later I am on my way to the airport. I feel the power of prayer hit my heart. It feels like a very warm bath and a bright light on my heart all at one time. I know it is the woman praying about me. She knows without a doubt her prayers will always be heard, and she means well for me.

I have felt her praying or thinking about me a couple of times since then. I don’t know what part I played in her life. I had such a small part, only a few seconds, but at those moments, we are the same, and I know she is working out something she has to do. I must have changed whatever her course of action was going to be, and for that I am grateful. She will make a difference herself in someone’s life someday. I hope she has more courage than I had when her time comes.

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