Life has a funny way of steering people in unexpected directions.

One moment, a man was just another commuter on his way to work; the next, he was an makeshift taxi driver for the most cheerful passenger in town.

You’ll want to read on for this one!

It’s a beautiful day for a train ride

Back in 2007, when I was in my early twenties, I worked full-time at an auto parts store.

I drove a white 1982 Nissan Pulsar.

It was ancient, but no complaints. (Relevant, I promise.)

It’s 7 a.m., and I’m driving to work one morning when I pull up at a crosswalk to allow a dog walker to pass.

But then something completely unexpected happened.

Without warning, my passenger door opens, and a gentleman hops in next to me, nods, says a friendly hello, and buckles his seatbelt.

He was a sweet-faced, white-haired senior wearing a sweater and brown pants.

Definitely in his 80s.

I stared in shock and stumbled over my words, totally bewildered by what was happening.

He saw my expression and said, “Oh! I’m sorry! The train station, please!”

Instead of setting the man straight, he took a different approach.

That’s when I saw the taxi rank near the crosswalk.

Taxis here are white but definitely not hatchbacks like my car was.

He had a big, cheery smile, and, still puzzled, I realized that the local train station was two streets away from where I worked.

I was heading past there anyway.

And he didn’t seem like an axe murderer, so why not?

I relaxed a little, shrugged, and said, “Uh, sure thing.”

We drove off together, and he peered out the window, smiling.

The man cheerfully chatted with him as he drove.

He said, “You taxis are much quicker these days! Ah, it’s a beautiful day for a train ride, don’t you think?”

He looked at me, still with this big smile, and said:

“I’m Jerry. Lovely to meet you. I’m meeting my friend for breakfast today! I’m so excited. I haven’t been on the train in years. All my friends have passed on, and I don’t really need to go out of town. Well, not until I made a new friend recently. It’s funny how life goes, isn’t it? An old codger like me with a breakfast date! Can you imagine?”

“Oh, well, that sounds lovely, Jerry. Where are you off to?”

He didn’t seem to have even a single negative thing to say.

He cheerily described the town he was visiting (an hour away by train) and the store he wanted to visit while he was there.

We chatted the whole way, and I was so taken by how upbeat and cheerful he was.

He decided he didn’t want to make Jerry feel bad by telling him the truth.

We pulled into the offloading zone outside the train station, and he pulled out his wallet.

I jumped in, saying, “Oh, no charge, mate. I don’t have my meter working yet.”

(Telling a lie was better than deflating his happy spirit with an embarrassing situation.)

So he made sure Jerry got into the train station safely.

He was chuffed.

It was a chilly morning.

I walked him to the ticket office, where there was a heated waiting room he could sit in until his train arrived.

He thanked me, smiled, and said, “It’s a beautiful day for a train ride. You take care now.”

This moment stuck with him, even year later.

“Take care, Jerry.”

It’s been 11 years, and I often find myself smiling when I remember him.

It can be a cruel world out there, so hearing a wholesome story like this is a breath of fresh air.

What did Reddit think?

This commenter applauds the young “taxi” driver for having such a great attitude and a giving spirit.

This user identifies a cinematic parallel.

In a subreddit filled with harrowing exchanges, you’ve got to treasure the positive ones!

As far as wholesome stories, this one takes the cake!

Jerry got to his train in time and this makeshift taxi drive got a memory he’ll never forget!

Sometimes the longer route is the more meaningful one.

Now that you’ve read that story, check out this one about a delivery driver who took a $400 grocery order back because she wasn’t given a tip.