‘You are my guardian angel’: Stranger saves communter from fine

Recently I heard a story about a woman who was travelling by train to her job in the city when she heard a young lady in the carriage crying and banging her mobile phone. The young lady could be heard saying “Where are you Dad?” repeatedly.

The woman got up out of her seat and went down to the lady, who was visibly distressed by this point, and asked her what was wrong. The lady replied that she had left her Opal card at home. (The Opal card is the contactless fare collection card used throughout public transport systems in Sydney and suburbs of New South Wales.) She said that in 16 years, this was the first time she’d travelled without it. She had been trying to contact her father, but hadn’t been having any luck.

A short time later the young lady’s mobile started ringing. She thrust her phone to the other woman. “Tell my father that if the police are on the train I will be given a fine for not having a ticket to travel,” she said.

In speaking with the lady’s father, the woman offering her assistance asked if there was another card. There was. It would allow the lady to tap off at the other end. The father was trying to catch another train into the city to meet his daughter, but the woman assured him everything would be okay.

While all this was going on, a group of teenage boys on their way to school had started to mock the lady for crying about her Opal card. They were also bullying the woman who had stopped to offer her help.

The woman looked up at the boys and told them that she had four older brothers and that they would not take kindly to the way the boys were speaking with her. This only antagonised them more.

When they reached the city, the woman and the young lady found a station employee and discussed what had happened in relation to her Opal card. The station employee let the young lady pass.

After the two women had parted ways, the woman made a phone call to the school that the boys attended. She spoke with the principal about the behaviour of the students, who in turn advised her that he would make an example of the situation and what the boys should have done at the next school assembly.

Some days later, the woman was on the train again when a smiling young woman with a box of treats approached her. It was the young lady who she’d helped with her Opal card.

“I have a new friend,” the woman said.

“No,” said the young lady. “You are much better than that. You’re my guardian angel.” The young lady gave this woman a hug.

You might be wondering if this story is really true. I assure that it is. You see, the woman is my daughter and I’m so proud that she was there to help someone in their time of need. It shows me that there are still people in this world who have feelings and can care for those around them.

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