The bad guys really stick with us, but I have one story about a good man that has stuck with me through the years.
I was about 16. I had run out of gas on Rock Road, on the outskirts of McConnell AFB. In those days Rock was a 2 lane, and much of it was country, unlike today when the section between Derby and Wichita kind of blends. No. It got quite secluded in spots along Rock in the 70s.
Well, my little green, ‘75 Vega with a black racing stripe ran out of gas in one of those secluded spots, so, I started walking to the nearest gas station, probably a mile or two away.
Enter the ubiquitous “car full of guys.” There were 2 in the front and 3 in the back.

Oh.
Shit.

Well, they pulled over and offered to help me by saying, “Hey baby! Climb in! We’ll take you to the gas station!”
I kept saying, “No. No thank you. But if I give you $5.00 could you get some gas for me?”
They kept insisting that I get in the car with them, which would have literally put me on some dude’s lap. A couple of them were getting agitated when I kept saying “No, thank you.” I started getting a little scared.
Finally one of the guys said, “Hey! I don’t blame her at ALL for not just climbing in to a car full of guys she doesn’t even know! She’s not stupid!” Then to me he said, “We’ll be happy to get the gas for you.”
And so they took my $5 and left.
A bit later a highway patrol guy comes along. I told him what the situation was.
He just shook his head at my naivety. He said, “Well, that’s the last you’ll see of that five dollars! But I’ll come back around after a while and check on you.”
.
.
.
.
.
The guys came back. As one of them was putting the gas in my tank, the good one asked me out. Out of sheer habit I said, “No, thank you.”
Now I really wish I had at least taken his phone number, but I didn’t. I spent too much time running offt in those days, plus I was still jittery from the earlier scene when I thought they almost got to the point they were going to force me in the car.

I did get a sense of smugness thinking about the cop coming back around and my car was gone, though. Ha HAAAAA!!!