Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Unsung Hero (12/07/06)
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TITLE: Where Have All the Heros Gone? | Previous Challenge Entry
By Jacqueline Zerres
12/14/06 -
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I was in one of those pharmacies touting a freezer in an obscure corner of the store. It wasn’t bad enough that it was a day from Hades – sick dog, flood in the basement, in-laws due in three hours. I also had nothing in the house to eat and little time to shop.
It’s not like I didn’t try to stop my husband. I could hear his end of the conversation with his mom.
“Oh, sure, Mom, come for dinner tonight,” Randy said. “Barb won’t mind. No problem, no problem at all.”
He lied. Blatant, bald-faced, obtrusive lie. He had looked right at me and ignored my frantically waving arms and wagging head. The “No!” I mouthed in a silent scream fell on ears deafened by motherly guilt.
I was still fuming.
“That’s a pretty blouse you’re wearing.”
“Excuse me?” Annoyed, I turned to see a man staring at my top. I inched backward.
“Pretty blouse,” he said. “The blue is the color of your eyes, too. You have nice eyes.”
He didn’t exactly appear to be an axe murderer, but then, what did I know? Shabby clothes, rough hands, hair that was pasted down by something that looked like axle grease. Close enough.
“Uh, thanks.” I grabbed for the nearest, convenient item, a bag of frozen meatballs, then made some excuse about being late and headed for a more populated area.
Seconds later, I was alarmed when I overheard him speaking to a teenage girl. Not good about handling these kinds of situations, never-the-less I stayed close by, reluctant to leave her unattended. By her appearance, this plain Jane, slightly less than tubby teen, could be easy prey.
“Hi,” the stalker said. He was in the make-up isle now, watching as the girl uncapped lipsticks and painted dots on her hand to check colors.
She looked up, smiling.
“I think you should get the richer shade.” He pointed out a spot of rosy pink near her wrist.
“You think so? Why?”
“Because you have a beautiful smile.”
She did. I hadn’t noticed until he pointed out the one thing about her that was truly dazzling. The Cinderella morphed into a princess and glided to the register, her treasure in hand.
I was about to follow when I heard him again.
“Here, let me help you.”
The elderly lady showed both shock and delight at this chivalrous stranger who took the weighty plastic tote from her arm. She smelled of lavender with a slight hint of urine. He asked if she had children. When the memories came alive in her eyes, he time traveled with her into the past.
Curious, I followed them to the checkout and watched as he unloaded each item. His smile fell on me and this time I gave him one of my own.
“Are you okay now?” he asked.
“Uh, I guess I was having a bad day.” I told him my lament, ending with my hope of turning the soggy bag of precooked meatballs into a passable meal.
He raised a finger and was off running. When he returned, he deposited his stash onto the counter.
Lifting a jar of barbecue sauce and another of grape jelly, he said, “Put these together with the meatballs and let them simmer. Serve with rice.” He pointed to the box. He corralled a packaged pound cake, a tub of French Vanilla ice cream and a can of cherry pie filling. He tapped each item. “Cut, scoop, top.”
“I’m overwhelmed. Are you an super hero, or something?”
“No – a bachelor.”
I had to ask. “Why are you doing this? I mean, why are you so pleasant to people?”
“Because, someone was nice to me when I was desperate. A meal - a warm bed. If it weren’t for his kindness, I wouldn’t have been willing to listen when he told me that I never had to be hungry again. I came to understand the goodness of God. I’m simply returning the favor.”
Later, at dinner, I shared his story with Randy’s mom (leaving out the part about the meal, of course). She’d always been reluctant to discuss God before. This time she listened and received more than a dinner invitation. She received grace.
I learned today that not all the good guys work at the Daily Planet. At least one can be found working the isles at my local drug store.
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