A gesture

I was on the bus!
It was packed!
An elderly man with a stick boarded the bus at the next village, climbing the steps carefully, slowly, He told the driver that he couldn’t find his bus pass.
The driver said he would have to pay.
The elderly man said he didn’t have enough money with him.
He turned, and began to climb down the steps. The lady next to me said he caught the bus every day.
Everyone was thinking the same thing, but he was now off the bus.
Then a man and his wife called out “Excuse me!!” We would like to pay the fare!”
They called to the elderly man.
He got back on the bus.
Everyone was pleased that someone had extended the hand of friendship and kindness. You could see it in their faces. We were all smiling.