Mrs. Rumbelly and I were at the Albuquerque International Airport waiting to board a flight to Dallas. The Southwest Airlines terminal was crowded that day. Flight 730 to Dallas was ready to board and the attendant behind the counter was calling for pre-boarding passengers. All people with small children, invalids and the elderly were to board at that time.

Just then, a black porter pushing an old man in an airport wheelchair came whizzing up to the counter. The porter told the old man to wait there until they called his flight out. He did an about face and trotted away.

At that time the attendant announced last call for pre-boarding passengers, "Anyone who needs to pre-board do so at this time!"

I, being the good Samaritan that I am, commandeered the wheelchair and started pushing it toward the ramp. "Gang way! Comin' through! We've got one more here", said I. The crowd parted for us as I struggled to push the chair. The decrepit old man, who appeared to be in his nineties, was grabbing the wheels preventing us from moving. "Sir, we've got to get you on the plane. Please let go of the wheels." He then started swatting me on the butt with his right hand and exclaimed, "I'm not goin' to Dallas, you stupid son-of-a-bitch! I'm goin' to St. Louis. Let me be!"

The realization came crashing down on me like a ton of Samaritan bricks! I had seen the St. Louis flight next to the Dallas one on the other end of the counter but never thought to ask the old man where he was headed.

There was a hush throughout the crowd - except the attendant who muttered a "Jesus Christ" over the hand held mic. Some people thought I was molesting the old geezer and stared at me like I was some crazed perverted biker.

I put my hands up in the air and said, "Sorry, I thought he was going to Dallas." The disgusted old man tilted his head and whispered, "You son-of-a-bitch, I hate Dallas."

My wife came up to me and said, "That was nice". She smiled and shook her head.

Well, just goes to show: You can be a Good Samaritan. . .and a stupid one at the same time!