“Don’t Talk to Strangers!” How many times were you told this? I say you never know what surprises might await you. Recently, I had a delightful experience that reminded me there are exceptions to every rule.

In the evening the express bus I take runs once an hour, so some nights, despite careful planning, I find myself with a long wait. After a few unfortunate experiences, I choose bus stops carefully and avoid conversation.

Last month, I missed my bus by three minutes and, as I stood near the bench in the bus shelter, the man sitting on the bench invited me to sit down. I smelled alcohol and resisted. He repeated his invitation, and I sat down, opening my Kindle to avoid having a conversation.

But this man persisted. I really looked at him and saw a man neatly dressed, with a small suitcase and carry-bag in front of him. The smell of alcohol was coming from a small single serve can of wine. I don’t remember where the conversation started, but soon he was telling me about his life. He had come here from Africa with his daughter. He earned a living selling umbrellas in bad weather, and water in hot weather. He made between $400 and $1400 a day. He knew the best corners – the ones where he knew the police and wasn’t told to leave and the ones where he did the most business.

He had a daily routine. I wasn’t sure if he had a home, but he had a storage unit for his products and a gym membership, where he could shower and shave. He was one of the most content people I’ve ever met. He showed me his umbrellas. The larger one had a feature I’d never seen – a scalloped inner layer that absorbed wind. It also had a shoulder strap. I told him that I loved the umbrella and would track him down to buy one.

I told him a little about my life, and we ended up comparing zodiac signs. When he told me that he was 76 I told him that I was about to turn 80, he reached into his suitcase and presented me with an umbrella. “But James,” I said, “what if I never see you again?”

“Well,” he said, “consider it an early birthday present.”

My bus arrived and he helped me onto the bus. We hugged in parting.

I haven’t been back to that bus stop late at night yet, but I know I’ll have good company and protection when I do. Sometimes, talking to a stranger has wonderful results.