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
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