The Yellow Dress

I’ve been standing next to 7/11 for what felt like hours, but it had only been thirty minutes.

Dang… it is hot as heck for Chicago.

This global warming thing must be real.

I like going to this 7/11. It’s right in the middle of downtown Chicago near Michigan Ave, so there be lots of traffic. Foot traffic that is. I come here all times of the day and post up. In the morning, business folks be rushing in for coffee, sugary donuts and sandwiches.

Most of ‘em be ignoring me, ya know. But I do get quite a few that give me change. Sometimes they even give me a $5 or $10. One time, this older lady looked like she felt extra sorry for me and rolled a crisp $20 bill in my cup like I was her Prodigal son. She still makes me smile thinkin’ bout her.

At lunchtime, the corporate folks rush in for coffee and a sandwich and chips or what not. Sometimes, on a good day, the lunchtime crowd be buying me snacks or a drink. That mainly be the tourists that want to do their goodwill for the day.

The evening rush hour crowd gives me the most money tho'. I guess they feel lucky after playing the Lotto or after payday. Overall, I usually make a decent amount whenever I post up at this 7/11.

But today be different. I ain’t eat a thing for almost 24 hours. Only my cigs is keeping me from starving, but man, I’m super hungry and thirsty in this heat. Last week, I made a good chunk of change cause Chicago was full of people for that Democratic convention thing. Kamala Harris was here and everything, then all the visitors left and we hit a heat wave.

The air is thick, my mouth is dry, and my stomach is grumbling.

Dang…I just want some chips and water.

Since I posted up at 7/11 thirty minutes ago, I already asked at least 15 people that walked by to buy me some chips. I ain't even asked for no water. I’ll just drink at that bathroom sink at the McDonalds three blocks down like I usually do when I'm desperate.

I just want some chips, man.

Sweat started dripping down my face so I lit a cig, hoping to take the edge off. Then, through the haze of smoke I just puffed, I saw a flash of Yellow. A woman wearing a bright Yellow Dress walked up real fast and swung the 7/11 door open so hard, I felt the cold breeze of the AC hitting my face.

I almost missed her. She didn’t see me either.

But before she disappeared, I yelled at her: “Can you get me some chips, please? I’m hungry!”

She turned and glanced for just a second, but just like the rest of them, the Yellow Dress rushed in like she was tryna escape this heat wave or maybe just me.

Dang…that’s messed up.

I sighed and took another long puff of my cig; this time it was as thick as the stale air.

A few more folks walked right past me when I asked them to buy me some chips, ignoring me like I was a ghost.

Did it get hotter out here?

Just then, the 7/11 door swung open, and I saw the Yellow Dress coming out, but she only came out halfway and looked straight at me this time.

“You wanted some chips? Here, I got you some,” she said and handed me a white plastic bag. I could not believe it. Yellow Dress got me a bag of chips for real! I grabbed the bag real quick ‘fore she could change her mind.

“Thank you so much ma’am. God bless, God bless.” That’s all I could tell ‘er, before she disappeared back inside the store.

I opened my bag and smiled from ear to ear. She got me a super-sized bag of sour cream and onion potato chips…the rippled kind and everything. That be my favorite. How’d she know?

I tore the bag open and I couldn’t dig my hand inside fast enough to grab a mouthful of chips.

Hmm ... .Salty, crunchy, greasy, spicy. Chips never tasted so good. But my mouth was real dry, so I had to chew a bunch of times but:

Dang…it was worth it.

A couple people passed by watching me eat my chips as if I was a hungry, homeless man or something. Some looked disgusted with their faces all crunched up. Some folks looked like they felt bad for me but they kept on walking. A couple people gave me a few dollars when I didn’t even ask.

Dang… the rich do get richer.

My mouth was so dry from the salt, swallowing was real tough. I had to get to McDonald’s to drink some bathroom sink water real fast.

Soon as I was about to walk away, out the corner of my eye, I saw the Yellow Dress again poking her head out. Just when I was about to thank her again for the chips, she popped her arm out to hand me another white bag.

“Here’s some water. It’s really hot outside,” she said.

Dang…my heart just melted.

I grabbed the bag from her but she disappeared inside the store before I could say thank you. She got me some fancy water in a large bottle. I unscrewed the cap and jugged down almost half the bottle in one gulp. I felt the cold water go all the way down my chest. I don’t remember the last time I drank cold water that didn’t taste like metal. That water tasted as good as the chips.

I leaned back against the wall to eat my salty, greasy chips and drink my cold, cold water.

I felt good.

A few minutes later, The Yellow Dress came out for the last time, carrying some bags. I’ll admit, I stayed posted up next to 7/11 to eat ‘cause I kinda wanted to see her again. I had to thank her for the water. But when she walked out, she glanced at me and smiled and I didn’t say a word.

Dang…I was frozen.

I watched her speed walk down the block towards the bus station on the corner, her Yellow Dress flowing behind her.

I couldn’t tell if she was a tourist or a local, but she sure be walkin’ fast like a New Yorker. She disappeared around the corner and left a soft vanilla scent behind. I let it linger in the air for a lil’ bit before I pushed myself off the wall.

It was time to leave my post. I looked at my gifts and I still had plenty of chips left and about half a bottle of water for tomorrow.

Dang…now I gotta pee.

Yellow Dress may never know it, but she changed my day when I lost all hope. I wish I could have told her how thankful I am that she fed me on the hottest week in Chicago. But I have a feeling Yellow Dress already knows.

With a final puff of my cig, I dropped the stub on the ground and grinded my heel on it.

Dang…I’m gonna sleep real good tonight.

Thank your for reading my first contest submission on Vocal as a brand new contributor and member. Please like and share as many times as you wish. You can also follow me at Medium where I've written more musings and tales at: https://medium.com/she-writes-she-travels