In the first Pay It Forward – A Real Story I told how I first came into contact with the “Pay It Forward” idea, even though it wasn’t called that at the time. If you haven’t read that story you may want to read it first and come back here when you are done. Maybe not. Let’s get on with this story. It is true and happened to me and my wife so you are getting it first hand.
I live in 
Le Claire, Iowa which is right on the bank of the Mississippi River where Interstate 80 crosses to Illinois. This takes place about 2003 give or take a year or two. My wife and I were on our way to Davenport, Iowa to do some shopping and were driving on I-80 when we saw a car and trailer on the side of the Interstate. It was obvious that he had a flat tire on the right side of his small trailer. The man appeared to be by himself and was standing next to the trailer looking at the tire. Usually I don’t stop for hitchhikers or people broke down when my wife is with me because I had a scare a few years before with my son in the car. That’s a story for another time.