I’m an electrician and I go around to customers’ homes when they’re having power issues. I’m working into the evening on Christmas Eve, with most customers being generally horrid that they had to wait until December 24th to have someone come by, but I am doing my best to make sure as many issues are fixed as possible so our customers can enjoy their Christmases.
I am at my last customer of the day, scheduled as such as she happens to live very close to me. It’s a very old lady, who opens the door to let me in, explaining that she pays for her electricity using a top-up meter, but the meter has been faulty lately.
Customer: *As I am repairing the meter.* “Would you like a cup of tea?”
Me: “No thank you.”
Customer: “What about a mince pie? It’s Christmas and they’re making you work so late on Christmas Eve.”
Me: “It’s okay, madam. I am just happy I can fix your power issues before the big day.”
Customer: “Thank you! I was worried my Christmas Dinner in the fridge would be ruined.”
I check the fridge to make sure that it is working, and I notice the only items in there are a loaf of bread and some eggs. I try not to make a comment, but it’s obvious that I have noticed the sparse contents.
Customer: “It’s all I can really afford these days. The pension doesn’t cover as much as it used to.”
Me: “Is this all that you have to eat for Christmas?”
Customer: “No, no, I have a can of baked beans in the cupboard.”
Me: “You’re having beans on toast for Christmas?”
Customer: “And a mince pie!”
Me: “Do you have anyone bringing you food over Christmas?”
Customer: “It’s just me. All my children live abroad now.”
Me: “I… see.”
I finish the requirements of my job, making sure she has power, and I head home as soon as I can. I inform my husband of the situation as soon as possible, and he agrees we need to do something.
We drive back over together, and she is surprised to see us.
Customer: “Is there a problem with the meter?”
Me: “No… Mrs. [Customer’s Name]. This is my husband, and if it’s okay with you, we’d like to invite you to Christmas Dinner tomorrow with our family – if you didn’t have plans, that is.”
It takes a moment for what we asked to sink in for the old lady. She is a juxtaposition of being overly British and not wanting to be a bother, but also a lonely old lady who is in desperate need of some company.
Customer: “I… I… don’t know, I…”
Me: “You see, we only live five minutes down the road so we could come by and pick you up for lunch. And we could have you back to your house whenever you feel like coming back home.”
Customer: *In tears.* “I… I… I think I would like that very much.”
Me: “Wonderful! My name is [My Name] and this is [Husband’s Name]. We’ll be by tomorrow at 11?”
We agreed and the next day we came to pick her up. She had made an effort to be dressed in her Sunday finest – not necessary at all but I think she enjoyed it.
She got to meet our children, our overly-affectionate dogs, my husband’s parents, and grandmother (the two older ladies have a nice long natter all afternoon). We ate turkey, roast vegetables, and a huge Christmas Pudding, plus enough snacks and sides that half the family had mini carb-comas in the afternoon.
When it was time for gifts, we gave her a card, and inside was a voucher for the local supermarket worth £100. She tried not to accept it, but she finally did albeit with more tears.
Our new friend and neighbour ended up staying until 11 pm before we drove her home, and agreed to take her shopping with her voucher the day after Boxing Day.
In the following weeks, we now have her over to our house once a week for dinner and to play with our dogs, and we take some shopping to her now that we know her tastes and dietary requirements. We also sneakily top up her electricity meter when we are putting her shopping away so that she isn’t without power.
We’ve arranged a Sunday lunch once a month with her and my husband’s grandmother at our home also, who also appreciates the company, and it turns out that even though one is from the middle of England and the other is originally from Barbados, they have a lot in common to talk about!
We can’t wait to see what we can do for her for Easter.