Sharon Burton, publisher of Farmer's Pride, says, "Isn't that just like a small town," referring to an incident at neighboring business, Lainey's Diner, recently.

It started out as a normal day at the caf then Kathy Grant (red haired Kathy) got a phone call that her son had been injured. Thirteen-year-old Daniel had broken his wrist on his way to gym. That left Elaine and Cathy Petrey (blond Cathy) to handle the cooking and serving. They would be stretched, but they could do it.

Then Elaine remembered that she had to report to jury duty. O.K. That was time to panic.

Customer and longtime friend of Elaine's, Brenda Carli, became the good samaritan who would save the day. She heard the problem and said, "I'm not busy today, I'll help you out." And help out she did. Elaine said that with a quickie training session on how to run the cash register, Brenda helped Cathy Petrey to take care of all the customers through lunch and finish up the day. At paytime, Brenda refused any payment, saying, "I was glad to help."

Everyone was happy and that would have been news by itself.

Then it happened again.

Same type of emergency, different Kathy. This day Brenda came in for her morning coffee just in time to hear of Cathy Petrey and her 9-month old baby's fall. Both mother and child were alright, however, Elaine wanted to give Cathy the day off to rest from their trauma.

The good Samaritan came through again. This time she even had pre-training. And the day was a little easier because Elaine didn't have to go to jury duty, so there were three of them working.

Brenda Land Carli said she went home at the end of the first day she volunteered and told her family, "guess what I did today?"

Her family said, "How'd you do mom?"

"Well, Kathy and Cathy get tips because they are good. I think I got mine because people felt sorry for me."

Then she laughed because that's what she loves most-laughter and enjoying life.