"Alright darling. Hold on. I'll call the waitress. Excuse me, hello, excuse me." Her father signaled the waitress.
"Yes sir? May I help you?" the waitress said and smiled.
"Could I have a chocolate shake please? Make it two."
"Yes sir." the waitress replied and smiled, walking away to order their food.
"Daddy, who's that man there?" The little girl asked her father innocently.
"Now, now dear, leave that poor man alone." Her mother replied, glancing at the old man.
"Oh. He's a poor man? Why can't we help him mummy?"
"Oh honey stop it. Eat your lunch. Hurry up, you have classes later."
The poor man looked at the little girl's eyes, sadness were in his eyes. The little girl looked at the poor man and told her parents, "I'm full. I'm not hungry anymore, mummy."
"Its okay honey, leave it there. Don't force yourself."
"Okay!" The little girl replied, smiles on her face.
After five minutes, they got up to leave, the poor man sat at the sidewalk, nearby the table they sat, he felt weak, suddenly he heard little footsteps approaching towards him, he glanced. There she was, the little girl, she stood there looking at him for a moment.
"Where are your parents girl?" the poor man asked her.
"They're home already. I'm supposed to go my dance class. Here, have my lunch." The little girl told the poor man.
"Oh, no thank you little girl, I'm fine." the poor man told the little girl.
"No really sir, here, have my lunch, here's some money for you to spend." The little girl told him and took out ten pounds.
The poor man replied, "No little girl, I'm fine, really." And there were tears on his eyes.
"Oh, uncle don't cry, you need something else? Here, I have tissues for you." The little girl said and looked at him, sparkles in her eyes.
The poor man said this, "Keep it for yourself little girl, its much more worth it to you,not me." And tears flowed from his eyes. The little girl left after spending fifteen minutes with the poor man. All the poor man did was cried.
-Twenty Years Later-
I sat there and looked into the sky, the streets were still cold, the walkways were still cold as the sun shines through every inch of the city, clearing every shadow seen, centimeter by centimeter, inch by inch and millimeter by millimeter. The morning skies are fresh, the clouds seemed to be taking their sweet time floating through the city, providing shade as the sun touches the streets, walkways and every corner of the buildings in the city. I sat by the street and felt the coldness of the walkways, freezing my feet when I tried to move to the restaurant's haven site, the dump site. I scavenged for remnants of food. Opening the massive dump bin's cover while the metal clashed as I removed the cover from its lid and the coldness of the metal cover pierced my fingers like a spear. I felt cold, trembling. Then I took out pieces of meat and fries, a rare delicacy as people tend to finish it.
"My lucky day!" I thought.
I took the remaining food to my home. A small corner of the restaurant, filled with old cardboard boxes and old cushions taken from a housing estate about fifteen minutes walk away. It was cozy home. I made a shade, to accommodate my little space. It felt so comfortable and relaxing, with winds at night blowing through my shade, I felt as though it was an air-conditioned room. Usually I would waste my life watching people walking by, ladies with expensive clothing walking by gossiping, couples walking past and into the restaurant, businessman walks about with his expensive phone, women with formal clothing seemed to walk down this street, sometimes. I noticed the same cars which passed by this street, I noticed the people were working around there. So after my breakfast, which was after dawn and before the sun rose, I have already eaten my breakfast, if not it wouldn't be called breakfast would it?
I strolled down the street walking, slowly and taking my time, noticing everything that happens around me. I walked down and the nice owner of a small flower shop would treat me with some drinks, usually if I stroll down the street. I walked passed by her shop and she called out to me, "James? Come in here and I'll give you something to drink, need anything to eat too?"
"Oh no ma'am, its fine. I think I need something to drink, as usual you know. Sorry to bother you in the early hours of morning."
"Oh nonsense James. Nonsense. Come in. Come in. Have a seat. I'll have Layla ready your coffee. How's that?"
"Oh yes thanks ma'am." I replied, appreciating her help.
"Here. Have it and go. Enjoy your day."
"Thanks, ma'am Janet. Really appreciate your hospitality."
"Oh, nonsense again James, nonsense. Go on now."
"Okay. Thanks again ma'am Janet. Thanks." I replied her and walked out slowly. I walked further down the street and passed by Mr.Hudson's grocery store.
"Hello James." came a voice.
"Oh, hello Mr Hudson. Morning."
"Yeah morning, need an apple? Here, take it free. Take any food you need too, if you are hungry."
"Oh no, no. I have eaten. Its okay,thanks very much Mr Hudson." I replied him.
"Okay, if you are hungry, remember, come by here, I'm sure to help." Mr Hudson said and smiled.
I smiled back and continued my journey. I walked further down the street, past Mr. Hudson's grocery store, I noticed a lady in her green skirt and black shirt, walking by every shop, asking questions. She seemed to be in her twenties. She walked in every store, showing something to the owners, most of them disappointed her by shaking their heads and giving a sad smile. I stood there and watched her, without much caring about the weather but on her business. Then I continued strolling down the street. Walking and walking with my own sweet time, suddenly I noticed something familiar, there were something familiar in her when I look at her face, her sparkling eyes. I took a closer look at her, she was in a restaurant which was famous for their Western food. I peeked into the full height window glass. The owner caught me looking and scolded me from the inside, "Fool, get out of here, don't ruin my business please."
"Sorry sir." I thought, waving my hands and smiled and then walked away.
After finished strolling through the entire street, I walked back to my cozy home. On my way back I saw the lady in the green skirt again, she walked in and out, in and out. Then finally she went away, in an expensive car. I looked and wondered, wow, rich lady. I chuckled and sat on the street, humming songs that I heard from the CD store not far away.
My week passed by without anything happening. I looked forward to each day something would happen, but nothing. Life seemed normal. Normal for me of course. Suddenly, on a Monday, I saw the lady in the green skirt again, she was wearing a dress, decorated with flowers and it seemed so elegant on her. I smiled as she passed by and then back to my humming for that Monday morning, the streets were busy with cars, the restaurants filled in with customers, orders and sounds of the fork and spoons hitting on the porcelain plates. I just watched and did nothing. After awhile, while I was sitting and looking to my right, the lady came back and stood in front of me, I felt so small. I looked up and said, "Can I help you lady?"
She looked at me with the same sparkling eyes I saw twenty years ago and said, "Hello Uncle. Remember me?" and took out a ten pounds note, with a letter on it.
I could not help when I saw that ten pounds and cried. She bended her knees down and looked me in the eyes and said, "I'm that little girl. Do you remember me?" I kept quiet. Then she asked again, "Do you remember saying, "Keep it for yourself little girl, its much more worth it to you,not me.""?
I replied her while sobbing, "Yyees...Yes ma'am."
She looked at me and smiled, its okay, I'm here to bring you home uncle. She smiled and took out her phone and pressed the keys on it and listened. I stared blankly at her. After awhile, another car came by. Then she said, don't worry, I'm helping poor people like you to have a better life.
I tried to struggle off the man which tried to hold me and said, "But I like my cozy home."
Then she replied, "Its okay Uncle, your house have been shifted." Then she smiled and continued, "I still remember the honest look in your eyes uncle." and left.
I sat there for the entire day and cherished the moments I had with the things there, the cold street, the cold walkways, the cold metal bin cover, the cold bricks on the restaurant and my used to be home. Then I left, with the lady in the green skirt, to her home.
*Note:The above story is absolutely fiction and does not involve anyone, dead or alive. The story is 100% copyrighted and should not be reproduced in any form by any means possible. Thank you and enjoy reading.
Regards, the Author
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