Memoirs of a Cashier #2

When I worked my first day, I found out we closed late at night, around 1:30 a.m., to clean and re-stock the cooler, but little did I know, a surprise customer would make a special appearance that night. Just before the double doors were locked in place, allowing us to work in safety, I saw the silhouette of a man running through the street.

Of course, at 1:30 a.m., I could not see the man's condition. And, before it was too late to stop his progress, he bounded to and through the door. In a moment, it seemed, an African-American man of average height and build stood, stark naked, cupping his privates, dancing to warm his cold and shaken bones. The cashier and I exchanged a weary glance and an almost inaudible whisper escaped her lips.

"Should we call the police?"

It was the question of the century, for we knew not whether the naked stranger was a threat or seeking the safety and warmth of our store. Then, I listened to the repeated ramblings of the naked man, and with constant mutters, he pleaded "Please help me, please help me..." It seemed his mind reeled from an unknown experience down the road.

Quickly and quietly, I slipped into the office to the right, grabbed the phone, and proceeded to dial 911. No matter if the man asked for help, I was not sacrificing my life for his safety. Within moments of telling the address and situation, the police and ambulance pulled into the lot and whisked him away.

To this day, I never found out what happened to the man, whether he was robbed, high, or just crazy, but I did learn one thing. Just because someone runs up naked, shivering, and repeating some random sentence, doesn't make him dangerous. Often, I look back and wish I had done something to help the man further, but my fear paralyzed my need to help, and the only thought that remained was to get him the hell out of there.

When a random situation presents itself, will you quickly and quietly call someone else, or will you assert yourself and aid the situation? I hope you do whatever is best.