Smiling Sun Short Story

When I awoke this morning the sun was streaming through the blinds. It looks like it is going to be a glorious day. I was reminded of this story that I wrote last year. It was in a small contest. I didn't win, but it was an honor just to have been chosen. I hope you enjoy it.

SMILING SUN

Finally!  It was grocery day.  With list and coupons in hand I headed out in my 1987 Honda Acura.

          Two years before I had lost my job.  I had been relying on the kindness of my father and now I had other means.

          Shopping took over an hour.  I needed every staple, every…well, everything.

          At last it was all loaded into the car.  My back was so painful I looked like a question mark but my heart was light for the first time in an eternity. 

I snapped my seatbelt, turned the key in the ignition and…nothing.  Tried again.  Not even a click.

          I popped the hood, hoping for loose battery cables.  Nope.  All was tight and tidy. 

          A wonderful woman offered me a jump.  An older man helped us get that going.  When I turned the key again my car responded with a dreadful silence.

          By this time an elderly couple had parked near me, shopped and come out and now they approached me with an offer of help.  I was distraught and I suppose it showed.

          “Well, what will you do?” they asked.

 Revealing some of my troubles I shared the fact that I would have to phone my father to ask for more money The elderly couple insisted in taking me and my groceries home.   The thought of leaving the car there distressed me even more because the driver’s side window didn’t work and had to be left open a crack.

After I got home and unloaded the groceries I made the horrible, embarrassing phone calls asking for help.

          The next day my son took me to get a battery.  We arrived at the store and I opened the car door and leaned in to pop the lever that would open the hood.

          

There on the driver’s seat was a small white envelope.  A sun wearing sunglasses was drawn on it.  I picked it up and turned it over.  On the back was a doodle of a daisy and three little words that were huge to me – for a battery.  Inside were five twenty dollar bills.

          I don’t know who left it but I will never forget it.  Many times I have tried to pay it forward.

          When things are really not going well and I am frustrated with the world I only have to picture that symbol of the best that should dwell in all of us: that little smiling sun wearing shades.