Playing it safe, you decide to back yourself a healthy distance to the wall and make yourself functionally invisible among the crowd. I mean, you didn’t know the guy! For all you know, he could be some madman ransacking the countryside on a murdering spree! What kindness did you owe him?
But once the stranger left for the waterlogged streets in a huff, and the rest of the patrons finished their ‘did that just happen?’ exchange of glances, you didn’t have much luck yourself. Clearing your throat, you gingerly approached the front desk. “Excuse me, miss. Is there a…possibility you have an empty room this evening?”
Despite your careful verbiage, the shrewd woman at the desk stuck up her nose. She chirped, “Nope! ‘Ere all booked this time’a year, i'm afraid!” Yeah, what with all the tourist traffic this town gets…
“Okay- is there anywhere I can get my car fixed? I-I broke down about a half mile that way, and I didn’t-“ Before you could finish pleading your case, the woman decided that you weren't worth the trouble, giving you the cold shoulder as she busied herself with housekeeping chores around the lobby. What a bitch!
Okay, so that was a bust. But self pity won’t get your car fixed. It sure as hell won’t keep you dry for the night.