27 Comments
User's avatar
Sharon Hudson's avatar

So many women on the night shift could use a guy like Marty. Angels come in many forms. I love this story, Sharron!

Expand full comment
Sue Cauhape's avatar

Every woman needs a bodyguard. So glad Marty was there.

Expand full comment
James Ron's avatar

Grace has a guardian angel!

Expand full comment
Jim Melvin's avatar

Very cool twist!

Expand full comment
Wade Terry's avatar

You always surprise me. So glad there are ‘Marty’s”.

Expand full comment
Richard Blaisdell's avatar

The night has a shift that can haunt you for years if the weather changes and the umbrella collapses with you in the lurch begging on the ground. A story written with suspicious sneakers that gave me the creeps. A story too often that unfolds with disturbing results.

Expand full comment
Sharron Bassano's avatar

Yes. The photo of those shoes on the dark pavement had a story - not one I usually write, but sometimes we go where it leads us. Happy ending, anyway...

Expand full comment
Janice Walton's avatar

How very sweet - and bless his heart.

Expand full comment
T. D. Wolf's avatar

Interesting twist, Sharron. It’s always best not to walk alone at night.

Expand full comment
Kate Henry's avatar

Knights <should> be strong. Self defense classes also a good idea.

Expand full comment
Linda Brown's avatar

Awww, how sweet!

Expand full comment
Sharron Bassano's avatar

Thanks. It is from one of our WWW photo prompts. A bit darker than my usuals.

Expand full comment
Sharon Hudson's avatar

A great twist, Sharron. You have a little dark side in you!

Expand full comment
Sharron Bassano's avatar

Yes. Dark. Fortunately it doesn't rear its head very often...

Expand full comment
Rebecca Holden's avatar

Awesome guy, that Marty. Grace was so lucky.

Expand full comment
Jim Cummings's avatar

Marty is a good man--one I would consider a regular guy. I used to walk my two female employees to their cars in the wintertime when it was dark at 5:00 PM and then go back in and wrap-up my work. I like to think that most men are that way. But sadly, not all are. Thank you, Sharron for showing both the good and the bad.

Expand full comment
Sharron Bassano's avatar

Marty was definitely a nice guy and I think also he may have been in love. But that is just my romantic soul speaking.

Expand full comment
Bryan Pirolli's avatar

Your foray into something a little darker paid off :) Isn't it fun sometimes?

Expand full comment
Sharron Bassano's avatar

I have to admit that I hesitated quite a while before hitting "post". Not my usual fare, but the photo I found kind of wrote this story. Thanks for reading it and for your comment, Bryan.

Expand full comment
Yael Gelardin's avatar

So uplifting! Thanks 🙏

Expand full comment
K.C. Knouse's avatar

Marty is a hero, but he should have offered to walk Grace home, rather than secretly follow her. The latter is akin to stalking, even though his intentions were honorable. Well written, Sharron. You present the facts without sensationalizing. The last sentence is a nice touch.

Expand full comment
Sharron Bassano's avatar

I wonder what Grace felt when she found out he'd been following her. I also wonder what Grace would have said if he'd offered to walk her home every night. Interesting questions...

Expand full comment
Switter’s World's avatar

Sharron, that was beautiful. Thank you for remembering we are not all monsters. Some of us care a lot. In fact, I’ll even stop in the rain to help change a woman’s flat tire, unless she has a toxic masculinity bumper sticker, and then I won’t stop because far be it from me to be a hypocrisy enabler.

Expand full comment