Airport
I was at Auckland Airport in uniform down by the feeder airline gates, as I was travelling to Palmerston North. My flight was about to board. A woman came along, clearly flustered, with a baby stroller piled high with bags and the paraphernalia that women with young children accumulate and carry. In the stroller was a youngster about two years old, and another one a little older was hanging onto the stroller. The mother said, “Please look after this lot for me for a few moments as I have to park my car,” and then she shot for the door. I didn’t have a chance to say or do anything and next thing I know I had full responsibility for a stranger’s family. I recall the child looking at me skeptically. A well-known New Zealand cricket commentator and former wicket keeper was eyeing me and quietly smirking. Five minutes later the woman returned, thanked me and shot off without a further word. Thinking about it, I realized this lady had unquestioned faith in me because of my uniform, and assumed I would act to bring order to her chaotic situation - by just sitting there prepared to act.