The Golden Ticket

In 2007 I studied software engineering, I was broke, worked as a live-in caregiver at a house for 4 adult non-functioning disabled men and … was still me.

The first day was hell. Nobody sat next to me. I was alone on the breaks. And I wanted to die.

Final class the professor asks if we have any questions and this dude that looks like one of the guys from the house I work at raises his hand and asks if he can come forward. So he does. That’s when he presents himself quickly and says he’s blind and… *Meanwhile people start looking at their phones and slowly packing* He needs an escort to get home. “You get a coffee and a muffin and your ride is free” *Meanwhile everyone was trying real hard to pretend to not hear him*

Before I registered the room, I just thought “OMG! I hope he picks me!” And raised my hand so high it almost came out of its socket. *Meanwhile the class started to disperse*

“Ok, he’s blind, he can’t see me, and everyone is leaving” I told myself. So I took my stretched out arm and wrapped it around his shoulder and said “My name is Maya, and I’ll gladly take you where you need to go.”

Side note → I was hungry, and spent my bus money on smokes and had no way to get home. So this was a sweet deal.

“You get a coffee and a muffin” he said.

Full concierge service → That’s my motto.

“Let me take your things, and please tell me, where do you need to go? All I care about is that you get home safe. Once you are on your way, I’ll buy us both coffee and muffins”

And indeed I did → He sent me to buy us coffee and muffins while he was relaxing on the train station.

When he folded up his muffin wrap I grabbed it for him and handed him a wipe that I heated. He wasn’t even shocked anymore.

That’s when I had to ask, cause all this time I wasn’t really sure how I will get home.

That’s when he explained and gave me my ticket. And asked, “Will you be my regular escort?” The idea was tempting, he was a hoot, but he lived on the other side of the country almost. How would I get there? It’s an hour away and an expensive ride.

That’s when he presented → The Golden Ticket. The escort ticket → “You can use this to ride the train for free anywhere you want. And you can get a coffee and muffin” It’s the escort ticket.

Ironically, I worked as an escort. And finally, I could travel! And that’s how I scaled my biz.