the kindness of aquaintances-thankful

I often visit my favorite sewing machine shop here in town to drool over the fancy machines, buy accessories for my own machine, ask inane questions and to pet the resident cat. They are always lovely to me even though I never spend more than about $10. Sunday evening I was finishing up an order for a boutique here in town that stocks my stuff. They are a new client and I am trying really hard to be their favorite supplier. Needless to say, the timing on machine went out at about 9:00 p.m.. I took the entire thing apart, cleaned it and fiddled appropriately but you really can't fix the timing on your own. You need special tools. I went rushing into the store at 9:05 (they open at 9) and begged them to fix it and could they do it right now because I had an unfinished order due at noon. Pretty please? Nope, sorry, other people before me. My heart sank, but the bad news was followed by an immediate offer of a loaner machine so that I wouldn't have to go without a machine, even for the 24 hours it would take to fix mine. Free of charge. My order was completed in the nick of time and obviously I am making the guys at the sewing machine shop cookies. They didn't have to do that, I wouldn't have held it against them, I would have continued to be a loyal customer. They knew that and did it anyway. Bless them.