I was sitting in the rear booth in a drug store, drinking coffee and thinking of nothing in particular, when I saw a little girl come in. She was wearing a clean but shabby dress and was clutching something in her hand. Now, I’ve seen some big, blue eyes before, but never have I seen any as bright and blue as hers as she stared hopefully at a fancy, bright red chocolate filled heart.
The clerk came up to her directly and asked what she wanted. The tyke said, “ I want to buy my mommy a Valentine Heart". How much is that one?” He answered, “Three dollars.” She slowly unclenched her hand. In it there was a nickel, three pennies and a slightly used gumdrop. She stood quiet for a moment, tears welled up in her big blue eyes and then she started slowly away.
From a booth behind me a voice muttered, “Wait a minute.” Then, a fellow whom I never seen before stepped up and took the heart from the stand. When I looked at him I was dumb struck because he was undoubtedly the hardest looking fellow I have ever seen. He had a twisted nose, a two-day old growth of beard and a pair of penetrating eyes. He handed the heart to the child and watched her as she clutched it tightly in her little hands. As he watched, she stood in a quiet radiance. Then, she stood up on her tip- toes and kissed him on his cheek. He gave her a tight-lipped smile, turned to the clerk and peeled the money off a large roll.
The child danced to the door and skipped gleefully down the street. It sure was a touching scene. Sort of like a real life beauty and the beast.
Just as I stood, ready to leave, the cops came in and picked up this fellow for robbing the local finance company.
Now if there were a moral to the story you could say a child and her mother were given a very happy Valentine’s Day by a hard bitten thief… and he, in turn, was given a touch of happiness as he relived a minute of his long past childhood.
Happy Valentines Day.
R.V.Morrow
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Reviewed by Hope Jones
2/11/2008
Tremendous Story! I felt what is like to remember something you once had, but no have no longer. Hapiness and sorrow all in one.
God Bless - Hope Jones
A short story of mine was included in an anthology of short fiction by fourteen of Port Town Publishing Company's authors. It is out of print and no longer available except as a download. Contact me at charlenetess@yahoo.com if you want it.
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