My phone bill was past due and I needed to change my service, so I had to visit the local Bell Atlantic Office. The line wasn’t clearly formed, and there was an old man with a cane nearby me.

I wasn’t really sure who was next and when we got to the front of the line, the man gestured to me and said, “After you.”

I smiled at him and said, “No, please, after you. I have all day.”

The he shook his head sadly and repeated, “No, sonny, you go on ahead. My doctor says I have at least six months.”