(I am taken to the hospital by the police because they insist I need a mental health check. The hospital refuses to send anyone to see me, so I need to get back home again. I am broke and it is around one am, so the only way home is going to be walking. I’ve been walking about ten minutes when a taxi pulls up beside me.)

Driver: “Hey, kid, where’re you heading?”

Me: “Uh, home?”

Driver: “Right. But where’s home?”

Me: “It’s in [Area]. Why?”

Driver: “You can’t walk that. Get in.”

Me: “Mate, I can’t. I’ve no cash or nothing on me.”

Driver: “Seriously, it’s okay. Get in.”

Me: “Mate, I’m really not kidding. I’ve no money, can’t get any when I get home either. I can’t pay you for a taxi ride home.”

(At this stage I start walking again, because it’s a cold night and I’m a genius who went with the police with no coat on me. But I’ve not got more than two steps or so when the driver stops me again.)

Driver: “Look, I get it. You’ve no money. Take down my taxi reg number, my license plate number, whatever you need, but I am taking you home, because you’re not walking halfway across the city at this time of the night.”

(At this point, I’m torn, but decide I’ll take a chance staying warm. And he does, indeed, take me straight home, for free. I explain the situation to him on the way, and as I am getting out, he hands me the card for the firm he works for.)

Driver: “If you ever get stuck like that again, give that number a call. Nobody should be left walking around at that time of the night.”

(I didn’t even know how to say thank you at that point. I was that gobsmacked that he’d do something so nice at all. I never did see that guy again, but thank you, Mr Random Taxi Driver in Belfast, for helping a kid out, way back when. I still owe you one.)

(I’m in the subway. There’s a black young man, probably 18 or 20, sitting on a folding seat just in front of me. He’s listening to music with his headphones. A young mother sits just next to him, holding a baby. The baby stares at the headphones.)

Young Man: “This is a cute baby! Does he like Celtic guitar?”

Mother: “I don’t know.”

(Then the young man turned the volume lower and put his headphones onto the baby’s ears. The baby opened wide eyes and looked fascinated, like someone who listened to the most wonderful music in the world! The mother was obviously moved. This magic moment lasted a few minutes for me, and then I had to leave the train and walk back home. I think it’s the most adorable thing I have ever seen in the subway.)

(During our mother’s final days, my sister “camped out” at the hospital with her for days on end. The parking garage charged an hourly rate, with a maximum of $8 per day. My sister hands the parking ticket to the cashier on her way out.)

Cashier: *not looking up* “That will be $24.”

Sister: *in tears, tries to count out the money*

Cashier: *looking up, sees my sister, and immediately tears up the ticket* “Oh, you lost your ticket. That will be $8.”

(I work at a big box retailer and am cashiering at the express lane. A man comes up with a few items and an older woman puts her items behind them.)

Older Customer: “You can just ring mine with his!” *they both laugh*

Customer: “I like to do that at restaurants; I’ll pick a random couple and pay for their meal but I always make sure they don’t tell them until I’m gone.”

(At this point the man winks at me as the older woman keeps talking, and starts stealthily moving her items up so I can scan them. He has already put in his debit card and put his own groceries in his basket. He tells the older woman to have a good night and goes about his night. After finishing her transaction I handed her the receipt without her paying.)

Older Customer: “Did he… Oh, wow, he did?! I’m having surgery tomorrow and I had to get some last minute things I really can’t afford but I needed. That was amazing; men like him restore my faith in humanity!”

(I work at the deli counter in a grocery store during the post-church rush on a Sunday. A family comes up to the counter and orders a couple half-pounds of a couple of lunch meats and politely leave. After the rush subsides a few minutes later, I decide to take my lunch break and sit in the cafe. I then see the family sit down in a booth near me and start to make sandwiches with the meats I cut for them. We notice each other but don’t exchange any words until a few minutes later.)

Customer: “You see that young lady? She’s the one who cut up the meats for us.”

Customer’s Granddaughter: “Thank you!”

Me: “Oh, well, I’m glad you’re enjoying them.”

Customer: “We are. I think we’re going to come here every Sunday from now on and look for you.”

Me: “Oh, well, I don’t work every Sunday morning, but if I’m here I’ll be glad to help.”

Customer: “We’ll look for you, then.”

(We don’t talk to each other for the rest of my break, but that small thank you helped me stay positive for the rest of my shift. Thank you, random family, and I hope to see you again!)