Day 547: Esta bien

I pull up at the coin-operated car wash, wanting to return my friend’s car nicer than it was as thanks for letting me borrow it. All the employee-operated ones are closed. It’s a holiday.

The machine that spits out the special car wash tokens only takes cash. I have only a $20 bill. I do not want $20 worth of car wash tokens.

I walk up to two guys wiping down a sort of run-down looking older car. I ask if they have some extra cash that I can Venmo them for.

The one in the beater looks up and asks how much I need. It costs three dollars to run the car wash system for 3 minutes, but you usually need more time to do a good job. Three to five dollars would be great, I say. Whatever you’ve got.

He turns toward his friend. Tienes tres dolares?

His friend pulls out his wallet and hands me three bills.

Thanks so much, I say. I pull out my phone and open Venmo. Where should I send the money?, I ask them.

Esta bien. The guy who handed me the cash gives me a nod.

He says you’re good, his friend translates.

Esta bien? I say. I understood the Spanish, but I’m confused.

You’re good, his friend says again.

A simple act of kindness that he’ll probably never think about again.

A simple act of kindness that I’ll never forget.