Two summers ago, I took a day off for illness. It must have been over 80 degrees that day. An older woman broke down two doors down from me, and in the heat of the afternoon, knocked on my door to use the phone. I handed her my cordless, she called AAA, and then she returned to her car to wait. I felt awful for her, it was so hot, so I took her a plastic cup full of ice water for her to sip on while she waited. The next day, she left me a rose bush and a thank you note. She was in no way offended that I hadn't let her in, and was thankful that I let her use the phone. My landlady planted the rosebush for me along the side of the house, and this year, I have roses.
