Kindness of strangers helps injured woman

A chance encounter with a couple of compassionate strangers gave a local woman a feeling of deep gratitude and a wish that she could thank them again and give them a message of hope.

While Cathy Newsome was crossing the street after leaving the library in Kalispell, she happened to notice a young, nicely dressed couple walking nearby.

Suddenly the toe of her shoe caught on her sidewalk and she took a hard fall. While she struggled to get up, the couple rushed over to her. Her pinky finger had been painfully broken and the young man offered to help get her back on her feet while the young woman asked her if she had a cellphone so she could call someone for her.

Newsome described the man as maybe 19 or 20 years old, tall and thin, and worried that she was “too heavy” for him to lift her up. But he only replied, “You just let me worry about that.”

To her surprise, “It was like he was lifting a feather,” Newsome said.

Meanwhile, the woman had reached Newsome’s husband on her cellphone. The couple helped her to a nearby park bench to wait and said they could stay with her as long as they didn’t get called back into court.

“I wouldn’t feel right leaving you by yourself,” the young man said. Then he confided in her, “I guess I should tell you that I’ve gotten myself into some trouble and we’re waiting for the jury to return with a verdict.”

He explained that they had just stepped outside to get a bite of lunch when they saw Newsome fall.

Just then the couple got the call that the jury had returned.

As they were leaving, he said, “I just figured I’d try to do some kindness if I could.” Then he asked her, “Would it be all right if I gave you a hug?”

Newsome said, yes, that would be nice, and so he gave her a little hug before the two headed back to the courtroom.

In the commotion of the moment, Newsome didn’t get their names. Afterward, she’d wished she would have had the presence of mind to thank them for all they did for her.

But more than that, she wished she had told this young man that we all make mistakes. She would have told him that no matter what he had done and no matter the verdict, there is always an opportunity for a second chance. She sensed from his kindness to her that he was looking for that second chance.

“He gave me a hand that day,” Newsome said. “If God would give me the opportunity to find him again, I’d tell him thank you. I’d tell him that God gives everyone a second chance. It’s a gift and I’d encourage him to accept that gift.”

Community editor Carol Marino may be reached at 758-4440 or by email at community@dailyinterlake.com.