By the time she got to the station Barb was gone but she left a note, “I’ll be in Unit 55 out in front in a few minutes.  Come out when you’re ready.”

Barb arrived at the station nearly a half-hour early.  She wanted to meet someone and to do so she had to try to check out unit 55 while only the night maintenance mechanic was there.  Someone told her he was the one who fixed their cars and set up unit 55 for them.  She walked into the garage trying as hard as she could to walk with a normal gait.  She didn’t want him to see her limp.  As she turned the corner she stepped on a spot of oil with her left foot, lost her footing and was unable to regain it.  She sprawled on the floor, unhurt except for her pride.  Her spill would have gone unnoticed but for the untimely appearance of the very person she wanted to meet, the night mechanic.  Short of breaking a bone the last thing she wanted was to have him see her like this.  Before she could get up he was kneeling next to her, fussing over her like a mother hen.  She was embarrassed and tried to pass off the fall as nothing.  He would have none of it, a chair appeared quickly and she was helped on it.

“Oh, Barb, why didn’t I see that oil and get it cleaned up before you fell on it?  It’s all my fault.”

Barb had expected to be berated for being clumsy and careless.  Instead she was surprised to be addressed by name and absolved of all blame which she was sure she deserved the major portion if not all of it.  After all she was being more concerned about making a good impression than watching where she walked a process that was even more risky for an amputee than a TAB.

“I wasn’t as careful as I should have been.  I’m sorry for any inconvenience.  I’m glad I’m not hurt.  I don’t want you to have to fill out all of the paper for an accident.”

“You could never be an inconvenience. I have been looking for some excuse to meet you.  I was even going to come up to your area some morning but I keep putting it off because I was afraid you wouldn’t want to meet me.  I certainly didn’t want you to get hurt for me to get to meet you.  I never expected you to come down here.  It’s so dirty for someone like you.”