she was falling, her stocking shins scraped against the firm concrete curb
it felt as if she were falling in slow motion
her tremulous step aided by the rusted out wheel
on her shopping cart
calculated the misstep
traffic hurled and spun loudly
screaming out her silent embarrassment
the hands that grasped her frail body and creped skin
were younger and agile
he held her and assisted her from falling further
his body pulled her upright
away from the menacing sidewalk
she could not turn around since the hands held her firmly
the voice was at once right in her ear
"are you alright ma'am?"
"thanks to you" she responded
"here let me help you to the sidewalk" the voice said
"please, thank you"
he lifted her slight frame and easily steaded her
"i don't know what i would have done, if you were not right there?"
"fallen probably right on your face" he joked
she turned to face here rescuer
she imagined him younger by his strength
he was in his 40's not his 20's as she thought
his face exuded a kindness she rarely saw any longer
he smiled broadly at her
"i wish i could repay you for your gallantry" she told him
"no need ma'am if my mum were falling i hope someone would do the same"
"you have a nice day ma'am"
before she had a chance to respond the same
he was gone blending into the others that were all rushing along
she resumed her slow and unsteady pace
stopped a moment and looked up at the pale blue autumn sky
the hustle and bustle of the morning commute, rote
he reached the coffee shop at the exact time each morning
his train unvarying for 10 years
the clerk behind the counter was not the familiar face
"where is the older woman?" he asked
"she retired, yesterday was her last day, you know her?" the girl asked
"no not really she had been serving me my morning cup of coffee for many years"
"well what can i get for you?" she asked
"i would have said the usual but that would not make much sense, light & sweet"
"here you go that will be 1.75 please"
he went for his wallet but it was not on the inside of his coat pocket
he fumbled with his pants and no wallet
he was quite distressed was it at home or lost
the line grew long
he searched
"let me help the next person in line while you look" the young girl said
the woman behind was a face he had seen on the train many times
they had never spoken possibly a smile every few years
"here this will cover both" she said as she handed the clerk a bill
"you are paying for his too?" she asked
"sure no big deal, have a nice day" as she was turning to leave
"thank you that was very kind" he said, embarassed
"think nothing of it, i am sure that you would have done the same" she smiled
and quickly hurried away into the throngs of the morning rush
"kind lady" the young girl said
"yes she is" he responded as he took the coffee and went on his way
pausing a moment to look up as if to acknowledge a higher power
then moved on
the young bag boy asked "what's in that box over there by the door?"
"don't know, go move it before the manager sees it" the cashier said
"sure thing, well look at that there are 4 kittens in it, someone just dropped them"
"you're kidding me, people don't do that anymore" she said
"well if they don't i have a box of wriggling and whimpering fur in my hand"
"what do we do with them?" he asked the older woman
"i don't know let me see, oh my gosh they are the tiniest things
their eyes are barely open, what a cruddy thing to do, just toss them in a box"
"i am going to make a sign free kittens" he said
" you're a nice kid, tell your momma she raised you right"
the day passed and by noon not one kitten was taken
the young man felt responsible for the miniscule lives
"sure wish i could take one home but our dog, not fond of cats"
just then a woman and her small daughter were walking by
he was holding one of the petite kittens in his hand
"moma look at that pretty kitten it is the same color as our marley"
"you want to see it" the boy asked
"we lost our cat after many years and my daughter was heartbroken"
"moma can i hold the kitty?" she asked
"here you go" the young man looked at the mother who nodded yes
" he is purring, oh mommy can we have it?"
"how many are there?" the mother asked
"4 ma'am" he waved to the box containing the other 3
"look there is another just like that one, may we take them both?" the mother asked
"sure take them all once we close we are leaving them here" he said
"really?" she asked concerned
"once we close whoever does not get a home is spending the night in the box"
" how can you tell me that, now i will have to take all 4 of them home"
"you are?" the cashier asked
"of course how can i take 2 and leave 2 to freeze out here"
"there goes our kitten problem" the cashier added
"i will find homes for the other 2, besides they are too young to be separated, they need each other for another few weeks"
"wow thank you ma'am i was starting to worry"
"it's no problem if you could take them i am sure that you would have"
and then the mother gave her name and her address to the boy
"what a relief she came along" the boy said
"i guess there are some kind people around after all" said the cashier
"yeah, i guess there are angels right here"
she looked at the boy who was thoughtful in his countenance
"yes i do believe there are!"
she paused and looked up at the small patch of blue sky
visabe from within the shop and smiled
tony scarpa 8/31/2018
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