To The Front of The Line

I got in line at Dunkin Doughnuts for my morning caffeine jolt, and the construction worker in front of me stepped back graciously, waving me ahead of him.

“Oh no, that’s okay,” I said. “You were here first.”

“I’m in no hurry,” he replied with a friendly smile. “After you.”

Thanking him, I wheeled forward and placed my order. But I have to admit that the situation made me feel a little strange. It would have been one thing if he had gotten to the line at the same time I did. In that case, letting me go first would have been a chivalrous gesture. But he was already in line when I got there.

This sort of thing happens to me a lot, and I never know what it is that motivates complete strangers to randomly offer me a better spot in line or help with something I obviously already have under control. Whatever drives them, I find these folks feel more at ease when I take them up on their offer, whether I really need to or not.