The Place: Stopped at the corner light in the right lane, waiting to turn left (both lanes can turn left). To the right is a mini strip mall. To the left is a fire house/emergency response station.
The Problem: In the left lane right next to me, a car dies. The occupants get out and pop the hood while getting jumper cables.
The lady looks at me and starts talking so I roll down my window.
Lady: Can you give us a jump?
Me: I'm sorry I really can't, I have to be some.....
Lady: Oh that's FINE. Never mind. One day you'll be in this position and... *starts talking to other people with her.
Me: I'm really sorry. If I was going to the store or someplace I didn't have to be right now I would help but I....
Lady: That's fine, fine, whatever.
And the light changed. By the time we returned 45 minutes later, she was gone. But wow, did I feel like a horrible person.
And then I thought... really? There's an emergency station Right There. If I had stopped we'd have blocked both lanes and there was no way for me to turn nose-to-nose with her either. I did have to be somewhere, but it felt awful that it was church of all places and I felt like I was going against one of the basics tenets of being a good person.
I get that she was frustrated and upset, but I didn't like saying No and I already felt guilty for saying No.
It just burns me that she was rude about it.
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