Challenge Photo from Toni Cross
i must admit
i was quite surprised
to see her there
bare feet residing
under a table twice her size
on a carpet of worn out grass
but
she appeared at ease
in this impromptu marketplace
offering only one item
to wanderers of this sidewalk
a pair of shoes
the finest
she had ever worn
according to the sales rep.
my inquiry into why
she would sell
such a fine personal item
was greeted with a smile
and carefully chosen words
like
any good salesperson
without bothering you with all the details
i can summarize it like this
daddy
lost job
daddy
sad
no money for food
wanted to help
love
daddy
so
i paid twenty dollars
for the shoelaces
and told her
to take the shoes home
just in case
things got
worse
looks like
things got
better
Read Between the Minds 