Part 9 

Behind the counter stood an old man who gave us a quick look and then continued arranging the glasses on the shelf behind the counter. He wore very thick spectacles which made his eyes seem larger than life and when he finished what he was doing he turned and smiled. “Well what will it be for you two love birds today he said” Was it that obvious I thought, I mean all we did was walk in and sit down. We were holding hands but I doubt….

He continued on with his last line of thought and almost purred…looking at me he said, “ I knowed the minute I saw you two walk in that you both were smitten beyond repair…I could tell by the looks in yer eyes that you had it bad, I know because it was the same look that I had for my sweet Cora some fifty years ago.” His smile then receded as he paused in a moment of reflection and then as if by magic he turned on his smile again and said, “So what will it be?”

I looked over at Leah and then back at the old man and told him that we were going to have his best root beer float with extra napkins. Leah’s eyes lit up even brighter than ever before and she exclaimed “How did you know I needed extra napkins?”…I mean how”.

I didn’t say how I knew but I just did, I think it was because she carried such a child like innocence about her that I figured like most children she would just have fun with her float and it turns out that I was correct in that assumption. We finished off our floats and I asked the old man for the check and his big eyes just twinkled from behind the coke bottle glasses as he said…”These are on me, you two kids have a great day and come back to see me sometime.” I thanked him for his goodness and I made a mental note that if Leah and I were still together a year from now that we would be back to celebrate our one year anniversary of our first date. It was a promise that I knew in my heart I would keep.

As we were about to walk out the door I turned back to tell the old man thanks once again and noticed that he had taken a framed photograph down from the top shelf. I stood there for a few seconds and watched as his softly ran his fingers across the glass of the frame. The picture was that of a young man and woman embracing each other. I had noticed it while we were having our floats but thought little of it at the time. The photo was that of a young man was in uniform and they were standing next to a late 30s model sedan. It was clear to me then that this was the old man probably before he shipped out in WWII and the petite lady was his Cora. Certain sadness filled my heart as I watched him handle the photograph with a sweet gentleness. Leah then roused me from my thoughts and we proceeded back to the bus stop to wait for the Cleveland Park bus.

This time we obeyed the traffic signals and crossed when given the OK by the mechanical sign on the opposite corner. I looked at my watch and saw that we had a few minutes to spare before the bus arrived. I looked at Leah and said, “Promise me you will stay right here, I forgot something at the drugstore and I will be back in two minutes tops…Promise? She smiled and said that she would stay put. I looked both ways and darted back across the street and into the drugstore. The old man was just taking our float glasses from the counter and looked up a little startled…”did you forget something young man he asked?”

Yeah I did I replied as I made my way over to the opposite corner of the store. I emerged back at the counter in a flash holding one long stem rose from the fresh cut flowers along the side wall. The old mans eyes sparkled again as he told me to go on and take that flower to my lovely lady…”NO CHARGE he said with a soft laugh” I tossed two bucks on the counter and sprinted out of the store holding the rose behind my back. I dogged in and out of the traffic and reached the bus stop almost out of breath. Leah looked up and me and said “My, that was quick, I think you did that in a minute and thirty seven seconds…I know because I was counting the seconds” She then noticed my arm tucked behind me and said…”What have you got…did you get me a prize”? I then held out the beautiful long stem rose to her and watched as warm tears of joy filled her eyes. She then looked at me with the most tender look I have ever seen and said, “Oh Allen, its so beautiful and you bought it just for me….I don’t know what to say…no one has ever bought me flowers before.” With that said she stood up and gave me a soft kiss on the cheek. I almost crumpled under the tenderness of her lips upon my skin and was about to say something when the Cleveland Park bus came screeching to a halt at the stop. The doors hissed open and Leah and I climbed aboard..... To be continued

J. Allen Wilson © 9/2008

The Bus Stop Part 1

The Bus Stop Part 2

The Bus Stop Part 3

The Bus Stop Part 4

The Bus Stop Part 5

The Bus Stop Part 6

The Bus Stop Part 7

The Bus Stop Part 8