The Melons Went Flying and a Group of Helpful Older Women Rushed to the Rescue

One weekend morning, I accompanied my mum to the local market for our weekly produce shop. My mother continued browsing when I volunteered to take the groceries back to the vehicle, which was packed into a little red trolley. It resembled a Mary Poppins bag – quite a small thing, but it was surprising how much you could fit inside. Or so we thought.

With the cart heaving under the weight of an already full load of groceries, my mum rested a box of honeydew melons on top. She warned me to be cautious getting it back to the car.

All was going well as I weaved my way through the crowds of people and out of the market. But as I was navigating the chaotically busy main intersection into the market, the trolley became lodged on the road divider in the middle of the road, and the crate of melons fell to the ground. They scattered, dramatically rolling out towards passersby and waiting cars.

As the pedestrian signal switched from green to red, I was shocked, speechless, trying to process how I was going to collect the melons shooting in multiple directions.

Out of nowhere, a band of several older women sprang to my assistance. Silver-haired, scarves and one with a walking stick – they appeared as if they had stepped out of the same nesting doll. They didn't hesitate by the cars inching their way towards us. Utterly fearless, they just held up their hands to stop the vehicles, in both directions. They collected all the melons for me, retrieving a solitary melon, as I repaired the box to contain them.

I thanked them and they remained silent, just grinned and waved me farewell. I never consumed the melons – I was not particularly fond of honeydew melon – but I share this story all the time because I love it so much.

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