And because it is world kindness day, the prompt today is “kindness.” I thought a long time about what I would write about. And decided on one of the biggest mysteries in my life. Who was that man? Why didn’t he allow me to thank him? I thank him here and now, and if a reader recognizes himself, please speak up. Or at least, accept my undying gratitude.
Gravity
A young mom
with three young kids
pulls into the station
to put a few bucks
worth of gas
into her barely
running car.
All three are buckled in
securely.
She must go pay the cashier.
She puts the car in park,
pulls the emergency
brake. (Does it even work?)
She steps away for one
short
moment.
Inside the car, little feet,
bored by the waiting,
are kicking.
Kicking at the
gear shift
among other things.
And the car slips
into neutral.
And gravity
pulls the
car (the emergency brake
does NOT work!)
down the
slight incline,
picking up speed,
toward the busy
street.
From the kiosk,
the mother sees her
babies
rolling toward the street
and runs.
Too late, it’s too late
the car is going out
into the street.
And a homeless man
(an angel in disguise?)
steps out
into traffic, and turns
the wheel,
allowing the car
to roll to a stop
safely.
The mother,
distraught,
runs up and
(thank you, thank you, thank you!)
tries to thank the man
who shrugs off
her gratitude
and shoulders
his pack
and walks
away
leaving four lives
forever changed
by his
kindness.
