A man named Jack

The man slowly looked up. This was a woman clearly
accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat was
new. She looked like she had never missed a meal
in her 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?" the man asked angrily.
"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. He's been a
fixture around here for a couple of years. 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. It was the middle of the morning, so most of
the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch
bunch had not yet arrived.


The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood
by his table. "What's going on here, officer?" he asked.
"What is all this, is this man in trouble?" "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. I didn't want to come
here in the first place."


The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled.


"Sir, are you familiar with Eddy and Associates, the
banking firm down the street?"


"Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently.


"They hold their weekly meetings in one of my

banquet rooms."


"And do you make a goodly 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."


"Oh."


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. 

"That was not my intent. Believe it or not, I have a
reason for all this." 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."


"Ma'am?" the officer said questioningly. He couldn't
believe that such a magnificently turned out woman
could ever have been 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. I walked
the streets for days. 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
the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen,
gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over
to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you
would get into trouble. Then, when I looked over, I
saw you put the price of my food into the cash
register, and 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." She smiled. "I think he
might even find the funds to give you a little advance
so that you can buy some clothes and get a place
to live until you get on your feet.


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. "To God goes the glory. Thank him..
He led me to you."


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 thank you for the coffee."