Heather and I pass time by going to thrift stores in Sioux Falls as we dont have a lot of money to spend. Today we were at one associated with a Catholic Church, I do not remember the name. Candles are one of Hs favorite things and good ones cost a lot of money. As I found the candles a really old man approached. I asked if I could help as he used his cane to kneel and he politely refused. He was wheezing, very, very, hard. I looked to the shelf behind me and found a pretty nice Abacus. I then turned back to see the old guy loading up his basket with candles. All of them. I leaned over and picked one up and asked if he minded, he said no. It was a Yankee Candle knock off, I opened the jar and knew it was not one we would like and I offered it to him What does it smell like? Pineapple sorta fruity. I said. He told me his apt. stunk of cigarettes and he couldnt stand it, he smoked for 60 years and they got the best of him. He then asked Is that an Abacus? Yea, buck fifty, and smiled. I looked around a bit more. He went to the other side of the aisle. After a second he spoke to me through the shelf and said, Excuse me, but I dont suppose you would give me a ride, I live quite a few blocks from here and Ill give you $5 for the trouble. Im not sure if there will be room in the car, I said, not sure what H would think, My wife might buy a chair. I lied. Let me check. He said okay in the sort of way a man says when he is used to disappointment. I walked over to H and told her the brief version of the story. I said I thought we ought to give him a ride or it would weigh on me all day. I pointed him out and she agreed. I walked up to him and said wed give him a lift, but we still wanted to look around for a minute. His eyes lit up and he thanked me. After we checked out he was waiting in front. I bent over and grabbed his bags and he made a bit of a fuss about it so I think I handed him one of the three. We made our way to the car and loaded up with he and I in the front so he could give directions. We made introductions and at some point he asked about my hand. I told him the story and he said he was sorry to hear. I told him thanks but it was an accident and they happen in life. It is how we deal with them that is important. At some point he pulled out his wallet to give me $5 and I refused and H backed me up. I said to put it in the collection plate at church or give it to a hungry homeless guy. H said people have been helping us since the accident and this is the least we could do to pay it forward. At least let me pay for the Abacus. He said. I laughed, said okay, and he handed me two crumpled ones. I stuffed them into my front pants pocket. We drove a long way, at least a mile. We arrived at his subsidized apt building and I helped him with his bags. We got into his place and his home was clean, very clean, but there will never be enough candles in the world to cover the years of smoke imbedded into the walls and carpet. We shook hands and for a man his age he had a strong grip. The kind of handshake that you know can count as a mans word. He said God Bless and good luck and that he would see me out to the car. He waved at H as I backed around and pulled out. H said what I had been thinking, How did he walk this far? And up these hills? Im not sure how the old guy did it. Determination? Stubbornness? Pure power of will? A little while later we stopped for a bite to eat and I reached into my pocket to figure out how much cash I had. After I waited tables, I always try to tip in cash. I pulled out my money clip then thought of the two bucks the old guy gave me. I reached into my front pocket and they were gone. I was sure that is where I put them. The ones in my money clip were crisp and new so??? I told Heather about it and said, I hope that someone who needs it finds it.
Posted on: Wed, 08 Oct 2014 04:54:31 +0000
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