To Beg then to Give

She stepped sure footed onto the pavement, letting the crisp icy wind smack against her forehead. The bag wrinkled long lines as it was clutched by her blue turning fingers and pressed on her chest as each breath exhaled created a fluffy cloud of smoke that faded in the air. The weather shock is what motivated her to keep going, and it was motivation enough to not feel the cold bearing its way against her movement. The song in her heart beat a pep in her step and had her mind thinking of plans for her immediate future.

This bag is something that the universe only gives to the lucky and she was finally the one to have a win that spot. She didn’t know how much was inside and didn’t care. During a world pandemic against a disease, any amount of money helps. She didn’t want to get too happy, but a quick glance she got made her sure that it was at least $10,000. That gave her some assurance. Some who are more consistently favored in life might not leap with joy, but for her it meant keeping a roof over her head and food in her stomach. With children the relief was even more welcomed. She had an opportunity to get something nice for her daughter, especially since Christmas was so small and almost nonexistent in her household. She can finally get her that fancy dollhouse she is always talking about. And she can get her husband the new xbox he’s secretly wanted, but hasn’t said anything, because money has been so tight he only lets what he wants play a movie in his mind. They also have the money for the baby. No one knows yet, just her. She wanted time to enjoy it before she told her husband. This gave her time to have her feelings and emotions before helping her family through there’s. But now the news will come easier, when she can assure finances to not be an issue anymore.

She meant to go straight home and tell her husband the good news. A pretty little shop with pretty little things changed the plan. All things, arguably she needed, or wanted depending on who answered that question. And she started realizing that all this excitement she had for the money was for her children and husband, but not one thought towards what she wanted for pulling her family through this time. She saw some notebooks on the shelf, none of them were overly decorated, but something moved her to go in the store to take a look.

Walking in the store felt so nice, especially coming from being out in the freeze. She grabbed the notebook that vortexed her energy to walk in the store in the first place. It was black. That was it. And with leather binding it called her spirit in a whimsical way. She thought of all the things she could write in this book, all the potions and rituals she will detail and the many dreams on countless nights she will note. She pulled a $100 bill out of her bag ever so discreetly, as not to bring any attention to her new earthly goods. And she walked up to the register. Her family was known in town for being on the low side of funds, and the pandemic just made it so most other people were in the same group as her. Everyone was hungry for any piece of peace. It was a great time for people that prepared for an apocalypse. Very bad time for those that lived as if the next day was given a stamp of guarantee, and allowed themselves to get wrapped up in the things in life that did not actually matter.

The clerk lived in the apartment complex across from hers. He recognized her also as the beggar woman across the street always begging for money to pay an almost shut off bill on one thing or another. Her kid was always messy and jumping around. She liked to walk around with a little baby doll that had hair all over it’s head going all directions. He knew her husband must be getting to work early in the morning, because he is always getting off the bus to go home when he’s coming to work at the store. He never has been able to see when he leaves, probably because it’s never a time he is awake. But when they are all together you can feel the love they have for each other. They have the most love for each other than any of the other couples on the island. Which, despite their financial and stability situation, makes everyone else in town jealous of them. The other ladies in town purposely shun her claiming it’s for being a beggar woman. The other kids at school will not play or speak with the daughter, because they say her doll is scary. The men are a little bit different in town, they appreciate the hard work the husband does and love him through his struggles. And all of the people in town know that what they have is the most precious thing of all during any time, and that’s each other.

The clerk saw the enjoyment in her eyes for a plain notebook. It totaled to about $15, and he saw her pull out the $100 bill. Nice and crisp it was with that new shiny strip. He just knew that her husband must have gotten paid and she went to go cash his check to pay the bills. The clerk started thinking about the type of sacrifice she must be making to be able to write. Is she giving up a meal? Tooth paste? Soap? What is the sacrifice she is making in order to just stimulate her mind on the most simplest level? He is not usually one to give to beggars, but it’s something about the joy in her face that he had never seen her have all this time they have been coexisting. He wanted her to feel this happiness without it costing her something essential. He gave her the $100 back and asked her to hold on, and ran to the back of the store.

She stood there confused and worried. Did he know what was in her bag? What could possibly be wrong now? The clerk walked back up with his wallet. He purchased her notebook for her without any questions. He turned around and hugged her tightly like a bear. As they pulled away he looked in her eyes and told her that he just wanted to do something nice for her because he wanted her to stay this happy for the rest of the day. He told her how he sees her and her family around town so much, and he just wanted to contribute to her family. She cried. She had no idea that she had a sort of friend, and that he would go out of his way to do something nice for her like that.

She asked if she could show him something, but it would have to be in the back of the store. The clerk agreed. He put a sign on the door to close. They went back and she put her bag on the breakroom table. She unzipped the bag and told him to look inside. The clerk moved his head over the bag and gapped at what he saw. Times were financially hard for him, as with everyone else, so this kind of money was doubly surprising. She explained to him how she found the bag at the park. She wanted him to help her count it and for his generosity she would let him keep half the money. He eagerly agreed. They counted and counted together and came up with the same amount of $20,000.

As agreed, they split the money in half and each went about their lives with a little less stress and a lot more heart.