What goes around really does come around

[BingoT]

What goes around really does come around
The man slowly looked up. This was a woman clearly
accustomed to the finer things of life. His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of
him, like so many others had done before.

'Leave me alone,' he growled.

To his amazement, the woman continued standing. She was
smiling -- her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows.
'Are you hungry?' she asked.

'No,' he answered sarcastically. 'I've just come from dining
with the President. Now go away.' The woman's smile became
even broader. Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm.

'What are you doing, lady?'
'I said to leave me alone.

Just then a policeman came up. 'Is there any problem,
ma'am?' he asked.

'No problem here, officer,' the woman answered.
'I'm just trying to get this man to his feet. Will
you help me?'

The officer scratched his head. 'That's old Jack.
What do you want with him?'

'See that cafeteria over there?' she asked.
'I'm going to get him something to eat and get him
out of the cold for awhile.'

'Are you crazy, lady?' the homeless man resisted.
'I don't want to go in there!' Then he felt
strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up.

'Let me go, officer. I didn't do anything.'

'This is a good deal for you, Jack,' the officer
answered. 'Don't blow it...'

Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police
officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table
in a remote corner. . The manager
strode across the cafeteria and stood by his table.

This lady brought this man in here to be fed,' the
policeman answered.

'Not in here!' the manager replied angrily.
'Having a person like that here is bad for
business.'

Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. 'See, lady. I told
you so. Now if you'll let me go.

The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled.
'Sir, are you familiar with Eddy and Associates?

'Of course I am,' the manager answered impatiently.
'They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet
rooms.'

'And do you make a good amount of money providing
food at these weekly meetings?'

'What business is that of yours?'

'I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the
company.'


The woman smiled again. 'I thought that might make a
difference.' She glanced at the cop who was busy
stifling a giggle. 'Would you like to join us in a cup
of coffee and a meal, officer?'

'No thanks, ma'am,' the officer replied.
'I'm on duty.'

'Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?'

'Yes, ma'am. That would be very nice.'

The cafeteria manager turned on his heel 'I'll get
your coffee for you right away, officer.'

The officer watched him walk away. 'You certainly put
him in his place,' he said.

She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner
guest She stared at him intently. 'Jack, do you remember
me?'

Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes 'I
think so I mean you do look familiar.'

'I'm a little older perhaps,' she said.
'Maybe I've even filled out more than in my younger
days when you worked here, and I came through that very
door, cold and hungry.'

'I was just out of college,' the woman began.
'I had come to the city looking for a job, but I
couldn't find anything. Finally I was down to my last
few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. It was February and I was cold and nearly
starving. I saw this place and walked in on the off chance
that I could get something to eat.'

Jack lit up with a smile. 'Now I remember,' he
said. 'I was behind the serving counter. You came up and
asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said that
it was against company policy.'

'I know,' the woman continued. 'Then you made
me a roast beef sandwich,
gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner
table and enjoy it.Then, when I looked over, I saw you put the price
of my food in the cash register I knew then that everything
would be all right.'

'So you started your own business?' Old Jack said.

'I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up.
Eventually I started my own business, that, with the help of
God, prospered.' She opened her purse and pulled out a
business card. 'When you are finished
here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons. He's
the personnel director of my company. I'll go talk to
him now and I'm certain he'll find something for you
to do around the office.' . If you ever need anything, my door is
always opened to you.'

There were tears in the old man's eyes. 'How can I
ever thank you? ' he said.

'Don't thank me,' the woman answered.

Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at
the entrance before going their separate ways. 'Thank
you for all your help, officer,' she said.

'On the contrary, Ms. Eddy,' he answered.
'Thank you. I saw a miracle today, something that I will
never forget. And...And thank you for the coffee.'