It was a simple gesture
but it meant so much (and still does).

When I was a teenager, my dad died. Suddenly. Completely out of the blue, in fact. The whole family were in a state of utter shock and disbelief.

I was spending my time answering the phone, helping with the inevitable arrangements, trying to console my mum, along with general household type duties like cooking and cleaning. I don't mean to sound like a martyr, I certainly wasn't, I'm just one of those people who prefers to be doing something.

The day of the funeral rolled around, and I was up early, cleaning and making sure the house was presentable. One of the first people to arrive was a friend and workmate of my dad's. A big bear of a chap, a real gentle giant. When I let him in, he looked closely at me, and shook his head.

"You haven't taken time to cry properly yet, have you?" he asked.

When I shook my head, that big bear wrapped his arms around me in the biggest hug ever, and pulled my head against his chest. I finally gave into the tears I'd been fighting for days. After I'd cried what seemed like a flood of biblical proportions, he let me go and moved on to speak to my mum.

I got through the day a bit easier for having that cry, and it was an act of simple kindness with no agenda.

Sadly, a few months later, the big bear himself died in a car accident. He left behind a widow and two small children. I wasn't sure I could face another funeral that soon, so I went round to his house and offered to mind the children that day. They were really far too young for a funeral. I took the kids for a picnic in the park, and I like to think their dad was watching me with a smile.
(TheWeeWitch hasn't been here much recently .., Thu 2 Oct 2008, 18:38, 21 replies)

Click
Click
( Mrs Entity is in hiding., Thu 2 Oct 2008, 18:51, closed)

That's lovely
*clicks*
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Thu 2 Oct 2008, 18:57, closed)

*click*
*wipes tear*
this weeks qotw is great
(Farmer Brown home grown since, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 19:05, closed)

Beautiful.
Enough said.
(setesh, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 19:06, closed)

that is
the type of selfless gesture that makes the world go around x
( Itsallsugar is made up of bits of names, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 19:06, closed)

Awww thats lovely and has brought a tear to my eye.

( Mrs Sp@m, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 19:18, closed)

*clickety click*
My god, this QOTW has had me in tears a few times already!
( Batshitmentalist is sane for once, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 19:20, closed)

that bought tears to my eyes
*click* you seem like a great person
*past on back*
( hooker1uk Filth monger of the lowest degree!, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 19:33, closed)

that made me cry
click
(Halfy By light alone, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 19:54, closed)

Stories like this
Restore my faith in an otherwise, selfish, uncaring and hating species. I wish there were more people like this, it's so unfortunate that he died as well, but well done to you for looking after his kids, I'm sure he would have been happy. =]
(Maccy Divided by 0 on, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 20:04, closed)

There are loads of nice people
They just make a lot less noise than the selfish, uncaring minority.
(vicarius, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 20:27, closed)

*click*
*wipes tear*

bless you.
( sanityclause is waiting until, Fri 3 Oct 2008, 0:03, closed)

I've been through this too
so I'm not sure how to describe how this post made me feel. 'Happy' seems rather trite considering the circumstances.

It's a lovely story though, and it made me smile.

*click*
( chart cat has an itch, Fri 3 Oct 2008, 7:02, closed)

*click*
I'm tearing up, I am.
( The Light in Chains don't touch the Pope's boner, Fri 3 Oct 2008, 7:40, closed)

*joins the teary brigade*
*clicks*
( bluemeat has been best of all the animals since, Fri 3 Oct 2008, 7:52, closed)

I wish
someone had done that for my husband. His dad dropped dead one day when he was 20 and he's been buttoned up ever since.
(TDub Nunc id vides, nunc ne vides on, Fri 3 Oct 2008, 8:51, closed)

*click*
that was lovely
( MonkeyOfCode is your favourite waste of time, Fri 3 Oct 2008, 9:42, closed)

*cries more*
Damnnit. I thought this kind of QOTW would make me happier. I'm going to have to stop reading for fear of my boss wondering in and finding me in tears at my desk.
( e.m.m.y. foxtrot uniform charlie kilo india tango, Fri 3 Oct 2008, 10:04, closed)

@ TWW
*sniff*

That's lovely!
( Boss Keloid Got your mother's maiden name tattooed on my arm, Fri 3 Oct 2008, 10:07, closed)

*click*
That sounds lovely. I like you :D
(Holy Cremola Foam Batman will be back on, Fri 3 Oct 2008, 12:46, closed)

*more clicks*
I am getting all soppy over this QOTW as well. Yay for nice people doing nice things :)
( TGB checking Off Topic is still shit at, Fri 3 Oct 2008, 13:56, closed)