Kevin Delivers Smiles

Kevin comes to the rescue in a snow storm, giving and receiving super smiles everywhere.

Kevin Delivers Smiles

The weather report called for two to four inches of snow with a chance of six. This is one of two days a week that Kevin does deliveries and if the forecast is accurate he'll need an early start.

“I have to get going, first stop is the bakery for bagels and donuts, then deliver them to ‘Coffee Now!’. Sandy, his wife, was finishing her coffee, both of them were nearly ready to go,

Kevin left first, that is, after a not-so-quick kiss that made Sandy smile. She zipped her parka and left to open the flower shop.

There was already two inches of snow on the ground and the storm was gaining strength, promising more. Kevin started the EconoLine’s engine, after turning the defrosters on full he pulled the scraper from under a seat, cleaned off the front windshield then moved around the van clearing windows and mirrors before checking that the rear doors weren’t iced shut. Kevin’s van has snow tires and he keeps 200 pounds of sand bags in the back. He’s ready for these roads.

Twenty-five minutes later he was at ‘Coffee Now!’ with three dozen each of assorted bagels and donuts.

Karen, the shop owner, came out of the back and smiled at him, “Thanks Kevin, I couldn’t risk picking them up myself and not being able to open on time.”
“No problem, glad to do it.”.
“I expect a slow day today. Stop by tomorrow for day old bagels and so we can talk.”.
Kevin smiled, this is what he was hoping for, “Sounds good, see you tomorrow afternoon.”.
“Be careful out there.”
“Always.”

The roads had developed ruts but they weren’t too bad just yet.

The next stop was Dr. Bannon’s office to drop off flowers and swap out some of Sandy’s plants.
After Kevin had everything inside, he picked up a carnation arrangement and set it on the reception desk.

“Good morning JoAnn, Sandy sent these for you to take home.”.

JoAnn forced a smile, “Thanks.”.

“Everything OK? “.

“My boyfriend and I called it quits. It’s what I wanted, you know, it will just take a little time to get used to.”.

Kevin looked at the picture that was still on her desk, “His loss for sure. If you don’t mind me asking, what did you see in that guy? He has nostrils that a fifty-cent piece could get lost in.”.
That gave JoAnn an uneasy smile, “We were together less than a year. The relationship has been over for a month, we just made it official last night... just not right for us.”.
“I’m sorry to hear that. By the way, I saw you talking with Jeff. I used to bowl with him. He likes you, you know.”.
“He seems nice.”, her voice was happier.
“He is nice. That picture of nose guy on your desk is what's stopping him from taking you to dinner.”.
“Really?”, can’t hide that smile.
“I’ll be seeing him later, I’d dump the picture if I were you”.

That changed JoAnn’s day, she went from depressed to hopeful and her smile became permanent. She dropped nose guy in the basket.

As Kevin finished his work, Dr. Bannon came into the reception area and shook his hand.
Kevin was surprised, “That’s a strong grip Dr. Bannon!”.
“Yes, I have freakishly strong hands.”.

Kevin was making his way down the nearly impassable roads to the next delivery when he saw a car in the ditch.

He pulled up beside it as the driver tried to step out, she slipped but caught herself and looked up at Kevin.

Kevin yelled, “Stay there, I’ll pull you out.”.
The woman flashed relieved smile, waved then ducked back into the car, out of the blizzard.

Kevin made quick work of hooking up a chain and pulling her out.

They were both standing on the road, hunched in their parkas, the woman was clearly delighted and thanked him profusely, “Your Sandy’s husband aren’t you?”.
“Yes, you know my wife?”.
“She supplies my office with plants, she's good.”.
Kevin, with a proud grin, “That’s her!”.
“My name is Lois, I have to get back to the newspaper but I’ll make sure Sandy knows how great you are, you just earned about a thousand wife points!”.
“Well Lois, my work here is done.”, with that, Kevin and his van took off into the blizzard.

Lois smiled, that disaster just turned into a nice human interest piece. She was slowly making her way to work, formulating her story for today’s edition, there's something special about that Kevin.

Not a mile down the road Kevin saw a bright beacon slowly arcing back and forth against the white snowy sky, eerily cutting through the storm. Another car in the ditch.

It was his pregnant neighbor.

Robin opened the car door and yelled out, “Holy nor’easter Kevin, am I glad to see you!”.

“Stay right there, I’ll pull you out.”.
“Can you just take me to the hospital?”.
“Now?”.
With the an ear to ear grin, “It’s that time!”.

Kevin pulled alongside Robin and carefully helped her up and into the van.

The van crept forward as he pulled back onto the road he couldn’t see, everything was flat, indiscernible white with barely 10 feet of visibility.

They took it slow and made it to the hospital with no mishaps.

Robin grinned at him as the nurses wheeled her into the maternity ward, “You’re my hero Kevin!”.

He smiled, “No problem, always ready for a delivery!”. The nurse chuckled, “She’s lucky you came by.”.

Sandy had left work early and was heating up dinner when Kevin came in. She gave him one of her special, ‘Grow a thousand flowers’ smiles and said, “I heard you had a good day.”.

She played the news clip of Lois’s hero story. Kevin, nonchalantly said, “That was the easy one.”.