A sound of thunder roared the empty streets of Nash County, Carolina. The inky darkness created by dense rain made the lights from the city no longer visible. No one would ever come out at this type of weather, except Jaylesya Corbett who never faltered when it comes to earning money. However, there was more than just the bad weather she had to worry about.
Jaylesya gripped her umbrella tight while she fought against the harsh winds.
She checked her watch, "3:00 am." She sighed in relief. Jaylesya still had more time before her shift. Knowing how difficult it was to commute to work, Jaylesya decided to wake up earlier. But the odds weren't really in her favor because the storm welcomed her the moment she stepped out of her house.
Along the pavement, the female employee was too occupied from protecting her new uniform from getting soaked. Jaylesya cursed herself from bringing such a little umbrella. The streets remained empty and she almost let her guard down.
But Jaylesya was alerted back when a strange light suddenly reflected the alley. And it seemed like it was approaching her...
Her first instinct was to find help. Jaylesya quickly glanced at every block, but there were no signs of a person. Well, who would walk outside early in the morning with thunder and rain raging in fury? The light was drawing near, and Jaylesya could already hear the sound of its engine.
Her heart started to pound hard as she silently prayed that the car would just pass by. But Jaylesya soon realized she was terribly wrong. The female employee quickened her pace, then the car slowed down. It was following her!
Jaylesya squinted her eyes from the blinding light. She couldn't tell who was the man behind the wheels. The female employee quivered, probably from the cold and fright.
The car kept up from the speed of her footsteps. Jaylesya gulped while she took a moment before she could build up her courage. But when Jaylesya turned her head behind, she was caught off guard.
Her eyes glinted in familiarity. She stared at the police car that pulled up in front of her. The windows rolled down, and an officer greeted her.
All the tension suddenly left Jalesya's body as she smiled at him. However, she didn't know the police had a different motive for her that dark morning.
Beyond her knowledge, the police named Sgt. Scott Bass already knew her.
Scott was aware that every morning, the female employee would walk six miles to Bojangles Chicken and Biscuit Restaurant, where she was currently working. After her eight hour shift, Jaylesya would walk another six miles again back to her home.
Jaylesya actually applied to different chains of Bojangles Chicken and Biscuit Restaurant. And out of all the restaurants that she had an interview with, the farthest one called her back. Jaylesya still thought it was a blessing as she managed to get a job. The female employee was so determined that the distance didn't bother her even if it meant walking miles every day.
Jaylesya eventually got used to this kind of routine. And whenever someone asked her if she ever got tired of it, she would respond with, "I still walk. How else am I supposed to pay the bills?" However, when the day the storm brewed came, her life was about to change.
As Jaylesya glanced at the police officer, she couldn't help but wonder if she had done something wrong, or anything against the law. She took a deep breath and walked over to the vehicle. "Can I help you, Officer?" she politely asked. The police looked towards her direction and cracked a smile.
But his eyebrows immediately furrowed when he noticed that the female employee was trembling from the cold. As a result, Sgt. Bass unlocked the car door and offered her a ride. "Yeah, I could use a ride,'" Jaylesya returned the smile.
Jaylesya was relieved that the police had no intention of arresting her or whatsoever that ran through her imagination seconds ago. She felt grateful to him since she sought a roof that would protect her from getting soaked. And even more lucky, Jaylesya could get to the restaurant today without the need to walk.
As a matter of fact, it was the first time that someone offered her a ride to work. But her intuition said that she shouldn't trust the officer easily.
The entire ride was silent, but Jalesya's mind was loud. Thousands of negative thoughts rummaged through her head as she began questioning her decisions. Even though he was an officer, she shouldn't hop into his vehicle because he was still a complete stranger, right?
And the fact that he came out of nowhere in stormy midnight looked really shady to her. Jaylesya started to break out in sweat despite the cold weather. Did she make a grave mistake?
The nerve-wracking car ride ended in just a few minutes. She glanced through the window, and Jaylesya was dumbstruck. It would usually take her two hours to arrive at the restaurant on foot. Suddenly, the female employee felt bad from doubting the officer. So she made sure to express her gratitude well. Sgt.
Bass waved in response and started drifting away. Jaylesya would never forget the kindness the police showed to her. However, there was something else on Sgt. Bass' mind. He whispered to himself that this wouldn't be the first time.
A year had passed, and it became a routine for Sgt. Bass to pick up Jaylesya every time the weather was terrible. Yet there were also days of calm mornings when a familiar police car would suddenly pull up beside Jalesya. Then a smile would automatically appear on her lips. It also came to the point where Sgt.
Bass would ask for the help of other police officers to fetch Jaylesya whenever he couldn't make it. A strong friendship was formed between them. They could talk about random things about their work or personal lives. But throughout the year, something seemed troubling Sgt. Bass.
The police officer felt that he wasn't really doing enough for his dear friend. He knew that after Jaylesya would walk two hours to her work, she would then proceed in standing for eight dreading hours. He couldn't imagine how exhausting it was for the female employee.
From an interview, he stated, "It just kind of really weighed on me and bothered me, and every day that I gave her a ride, I just, for some reason, would talk to my wife about her," Sgt. Bass couldn't stand it anymore. He needed to do something for her.
One day, Sgt. Bass made a detour and headed straight to their local Walmart. He talked to the manager and asked if they could work together. His goal was to bring a present for Jaylesya. "A bicycle to help turn a 2-hour walk into a 30-minute ride," the police explained to the manager who was now deeply moved by their story.
As a response, she ordered the store to give the officer a free beach cruiser bicycle. When Sgt. Bass saw the bike, his chest exploded. He couldn't wait to surprise Jaylesya with her new mode of transport!
The sun brightly shone at Bojangles Chicken and Biscuit Restaurant. Jaylesya was on her break when one of her co-workers tapped her shoulder. A police car parked in front of their restaurant, and it seemed like it was waiting for her. Confused, Jaylesya scurried outside and saw Sgt. Bass leaning on the vehicle. He had a huge grin on his face.
Jaylesya tilted her head and saw a black bicycle with neon green outlines. Her gazed then went back to the officer, who nodded his head in return. Jaylesya was quick to understand what was going on. She covered her mouth with her pair of hands, then tears suddenly brimmed on her eyes. Jaylesya was speechless.
Sgt. Bass and Jaylesya took a photo together with the beach cruiser bicycle.
Then the police officer showed it to his co-workers in their station. His Bosses were so proud that they posted it on Facebook with a caption, “We are so proud of Sergeant Scott Bass and his selfless service he provides on a daily basis.” However, they had no idea that the photo would generate thousands of engagements from around the globe.
In a span of days, the post gained thousands of comments and shares. People were awed by the kindness the police officer showed. Also to the female employee, who diligently walked 12-miles every single day just to get to her work. Their faces appeared everywhere especially on local news channels where they had a couple of interviews – all because of the one viral photo.
Both Sgt. Bass and Jaylesya were delighted to share their uplifting stories. But it didn’t just stop there...
In one unexpected day, they received a phone call from a casting agent of The Steve Harvey Show. Because right after he saw their interviews, Steve Harvey asked his staff if Sgt. Bass and Jaylesya could make a guest appearance on his talk show.
This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for both of them! Never in their entire life imagined that they would appear on national television. So they gladly accepted the invitation.
Sgt. Bass and Jaylesya flew out to Chicago and arrived at the set of The Steve Harvey Show. And it was Steve Harvey himself who greeted them as they walked in. The camera rolled, and they started casually by talking about how they both met.
But they didn’t know that the show had a massive surprise. “We know that you work hard, and we know that you deserve a little extra help,” Steve continued, “On behalf of the show, we are going to be giving you $5,000.” Sgt. Bass and Jaylesya jaw dropped. And before they could react more, Steve interrupted again, “But that’s not all.”
Their eyes widened when a retractable wall from the stage revealed a shining black car with a huge bow on top. It was a brand-new 2018 Ford Fiesta – a Steve’s gift to the female employee. In the spur of moment, Jaylesya broke down in tears then the police officer gave her the warmest hug. But the blessing didn’t only shower to the female employee.
Because when Sgt. Bass got home, the local police station surprised him by a grand fanfare and awarded him as the “Deputy of the Year." After the show aired, one of the viewers commented online, “Wow what a beautiful story i have. Tears in my eyes may God bless you all I have seen that police officer have so many people in America well done.”