We were five friends on our way back to North Rustico, from Cavendish, PEI, where we had spent a few glorious hours on the beach, and had a picnic in PEI National Park.
When we finally came upon the person ahead of us, we realized it was a young man PUSHING a huge suitcase, topped by a small backpack. What the heck? We are in the middle of nowhere, between Cavendish and North Rustico. What was he doing PUSHING a large suitcase? He wasn't even HITCHHIKING!
Turns out this twenty three year old young man was from Osaka, Japan. His name was Tsubasa Wada. He had come to Canada to study English in an international school in Toronto. He had been in Canada for about a month and was returning to Toronto, after a three day stay on the island. He was catching a 7:00 pm WestJet flight out of Charlottetown, back to Toronto. But Tusbasa was WALKING!!!!!! It was 2:00 in the afternoon. He NEVER would have made it.
His English was basic at best. Rose said, "Joanne, tell him to hop in and we will give him a lift to the nearest gas station." So he threw his HUMONGOUS suitcase into the back of the Ford Escape, and took my place. I hopped into the trunk, along with his suitcase. It was a short ride to North Rustico, and I was quite happy to oblige.
While we were doing this, Rose checked out the mileage to Charlottetown on her Garmin, and said "Why don't we JUST drive him to the airport? It's only 44 kilometers from here." We all agreed that was a great idea. I informed him that I wouldn't have to teach him to hitchhike after all. He was getting a lift. He was so thrilled, all smiles and so thankful.
We dropped off one girlfriend at the cottage, so I could get out of the trunk, and we headed to the Charlottetown airport. Rose couldn't believe THAT was the airport, when we got there, since it is your typical small town, East Coast airport - one small building!
During the drive, we had time to chat with Tsubasa. Inquiring as to WHY he was in walking from Cavendish to Charlottetown, yielded the following answer. He had come to visit a friend, and that friend couldn't drive him back to the airport. Huh? Some friend, that would leave him WALK his way back to Charlottetown. No help getting a cab,shuttle, bus or lift? He had been on the road for two hours, and NO ONE had stopped and inquired as to whether he needed a ride, help, or whatever. That is so sad!!
Anyway, this story is getting too long. Suffice to say, we had fun, we did a good deed, and hopefully that sweet young man will remember the FIVE, sixty-something women who picked him up that beautiful, sunny day. We gave him a bottle of water, two granola bars and each a BIG HUG! He would make his flight with four hours to spare.
We five are ALL mothers, and four of us, grandmothers. We will never know his REAL story. However, no one wants to see their son, or grandson, daughter or granddaughter in such a predicament, in a strange, new country. We did the right thing! Besides, he was just SO FRIGGIN' cute!!!
