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When an Indiana woman got an emergency call that her mother
was in hospital, she knew she had no time to waste getting to her mom's side in
Montgomery, Alabama. As she pulled over to get gas about 170 miles from her
destination, the woman reached for her purse. It wasn't there. In the flurry to
get to her mother's side, she'd left her handbag at home, along with her wallet
and phone.
The woman felt totally at a loss. Desperate for help, she
asked for help in a truck stop. Someone sent her up the road to Jim Oliver's
Smoke House, a restaurant known for its generosity. In fact, it's even been nominated (提名) as one of the Nicest Places in
America.
In the parking lot of the restaurant, the woman broke down
telling her story to the owner, James Oliver. He listened patiently, checking
her car for an Indiana license plate and deciding whether he should believe
her. To her astonishment, he handed her $200 in cash. In hopes of calming her
down, Oliver offered her a meal, which she took to go so she could get back on
the road.
Handing hundreds of dollars over to a stranger might seem crazy
to some people, but to Oliver, it's common sense. He figured a tank of gas
alone would cost $75 or so, and she'd need more money for a motel room and food
before she could work things out with her credit card. “I instinctively (本能地) went for $200,” he says. “I didn't
think of getting it back.”
The Smoke House has had a reputation for kindness ever since
Oliver's dad, the original owner, was in charge. In addition to helping
travelers in need, Oliver's father was involved in the community by helping to
establish a state park, daycare, medical center, and more. “Growing up, he instilled (灌输) in us to help other people,” says
Oliver.
The Smoke House might look like a business, but it's a
charity at heart. “When you've got food, you can't turn people away that need
help,” says Oliver.