THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS

Yesterday,
I mixed up pancake batter,
And was all set to cook,
When I realized I did not have any butter,
So I decided to walk to Doughty’s (general store on the island),
It’s about a mile from here,
When I got there,
There was a big CLOSED sign on the door,
Even though their hours were 9:30am – 1pm on Sundays.
Someone was inside,
I knocked several times,
But they did not want to open.
There were a few folks outside watching me and asking questions,
One couple was returning a golf cart,
I told them my story,
“I just need a stick of butter”
They chuckled and shrugged their shoulders,
“We’re just waiting for our ride…”
There was a lady in a Subaru,
Who had pulled up hoping the store was open,
And suggested we skip the butter,
And eat “healthy” this morning.
Then there was a guy in a silver pickup truck,
He was watching me and looking at his phone,
Eventually, he pulled up closer to the store and asked,
“Do you want a ride?”
“Well, yes, I guess…I left breakfast on the stove,
I just need a stick of butter”
“Oh, well get in then, I can get you a stick of butter”
Pete was his name,
And he proceeded to tell me his life story,
“I moved here a few years back and reinvented myself”
“This is paradise”
“I used to work in logistics for UPS”
And now he runs a Propane business here on the island
As well as a few other islands around,
He talked about his family,
His kids,
“My kids are the only native-born Chebeaguers alive today,
They were both born on the island,
I’m 56, I got started late,
They are 9 and 13,
Their mother and I are separated,
But we still get along,
She lives in the mountains and works in forestry,
And I like to live and work here year ‘round.
The kids have it pretty good,
Their home schooled,
1 week with their mom,
1 week with me,
They like it here,
And they like being with their mom,
He drove me to his house,
Which was a small house off the North road,
In the yard was a lot of junk,
That looked like leftover parts,
From various jobs,
And a couple of big propane trucks.
He parked and went inside,
When he came out,
He had something in a brown paper bag,
It was a frozen pound,
Of Kerry Gold Irish butter.
“Your pancakes are going to taste good this morning”
When he dropped me off he said,
“Now you know me, so don’t be a stranger,
And just remember,
There are no strangers on the island”