I had all but forgotten about this one...
It was many years ago- about 1983 or so, I think- when I was living in Rochester NY. I was young and naive, and also utterly broke. I had no car, so my only mode of transportation was either walking or taking the city bus.

One late afternoon I was walking along a street when I saw ahead of me a young woman who was talking in agitated tones on a pay phone. Suddenly she slammed down the phone on the hook and screamed "Oh FUCK!"

She turned and saw my startled expression and wailed, "Can you help me?!?"

I took in her disheveled appearance and look of wild distress and said, "Sure, if I can. What's going on?"

"I have to be home in a half hour and I don't know how to get there!"

I asked where she lived, and knew where the bus was that was headed in that direction, and knew that it was just about to leave. I grabbed her hand. "Come on!"

We ran for about five blocks and got to the bus stop just as it was about to pull away. I lunged for the door and wheezed our destination to the driver, handed over change and dragged the panting girl to a seat. We flopped down and caught our breath, and exchanged names as we laughed.

We got to her stop and I got off with her. By now she was giving me the hero worship look and holding my hand tightly and told me that she wanted to see me again. I agreed, as she was rather cute, so we exchanged numbers and she headed up a walkway.

...to a halfway house for psych patients.

I found my bus home and muttered under my breath the whole way.

Never did hear from her again...
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Mon 13 Feb 2012, 16:26, 4 replies)

I did something
vaguely similar - two young German girls were on the tube, and asked me how to get to canary wharf. They looked to be about 14 or 15, this was maybe 6.30pm, in rush hour London

First problem was that they were travelling in entirely the wrong direction on the wrong line, and second was that it was a bit of a complicated route from where we were. Third problem was they hardly spoke English, and I can just about order a beer in German, but nothing else.

I tried to show them how to get to Canary wharf, with the tube map in the train, but I could see they were confused, and both getting a bit panicky.

So, with lots of pointing, beckoning and 'this way'ing, I took them to Canary wharf myself. They only realised what I was doing when we actually got there.

This was totally the opposite direction to where I was going, made a 45 minute journey into an hour and a half, but I'd like to think if it was my kids, someone would do the same.
(username failed moderation, Mon 13 Feb 2012, 16:45, closed)

You dodged a bullet there, my friend...
(Maclir, Mon 13 Feb 2012, 17:56, closed)

I realized that at the time.
Just my luck- find a cute girl in distress who obviously finds me attractive, trade phone numbers, only to find out that she's literally a mental patient.

Fucksocks.
( The Resident Loon Not a demographic. Do not measure., Mon 13 Feb 2012, 21:59, closed)

I have nothing to say
I just want to see if I have a heart.
EDIT: i have a broken one.
( browser still relating boring anecdotes into a void on, Tue 14 Feb 2012, 13:24, closed)