Gemotions

The empty space where her ancient Volvo usually resided was a cold slap of reality. Emily stood, hands on hips, staring at the barren asphalt. Her first instinct was anger. She was, after all, very busy. This was an inconvenience. A real pain. Then she thought of Mrs. Henderson, a new neighbor struggling to navigate the complexities of city life, who had recently moved in next door.

The tow lot was a gritty place. The man at the counter was bored, but perked up when he heard Emily's quiet, polite voice. She listened patiently to the explanation, the fees, the rules. She felt the knot of annoyance inside her dissolve as quickly as a sugar cube in hot tea.

"You know," she said, when she finally had everything sorted, "I'll bet you guys get a lot of angry customers." She gave him a smile and leaned forward, "That’s a tough way to make a living." She left a generous tip, hoping it would make his day a little bit better.