In 2003, I was a teenage co-presenter on the Youth Show at Brisbane community radio station 4ZZZ. Part of my job was to read out the weekly all-ages gig guide. When I announced that Beck was coming to Festival Hall a few days before my 18th birthday, I cheekily joked that someone should buy me a ticket. I was a broke uni student whose wages went to petrol and books, so buying my own ticket was impossible. I didn't expect anyone to take me seriously.
The Unexpected Call
The following week, my co-presenters told me a man had called offering to buy me a ticket. He left his number. Despite any sense of stranger danger, I called him back. He sounded older and asked to meet at his office in the CBD. I agreed, eager for the ticket.
The Meeting
As I waited downstairs, I felt apprehensive, wondering if he had ulterior motives. But when he arrived, he simply handed me an envelope and wished me a happy birthday. He explained that he and his wife had tickets for a cancelled show and used the refund to buy me a Beck ticket. He wanted nothing else and quickly returned to his office.
Inside the envelope was the ticket and a birthday card signed by both of them. I was stunned and touched.
The Concert and Its Aftermath
I attended the concert alone and had a wonderful time. A few days later, I turned 18. Now older, I realize how risky that meeting could have been, but I've carried the spirit of that selfless act into my adult life, often paying it forward.
That couple gave me more than a ticket; they gave me the joy of giving. They taught me that you don't need a reason to give someone something. You can do it just for the chance to delight another human being.
