Stepping up to her counter I laid the frames down. "Do you receive our coupons?" she asks cheerfully.
"Yeah," I respond without looking up. She scans the two frames while I search my purse for a card.
"Though I don't know why I didn't bring any."
We share a laugh.
"Because these are on sale anyway," gently, she offers me kindness.
"Yeah, we'll pretend it was that. Not that I forgot." Again, laughter shared.
I haven't looked up. Down, I hold my head as my mitten covered hands fumble through my purse. Grabbing a knitted end with my teeth, I wrench a hand free. Bare hand plunges down into open purse, and I finally grasp the card. Over to the machine I swipe card, press buttons, and sign. All the while, gazing downward.
Finally, card returned safely to my purse, and hand covered with mitten, I look up.
Our eyes meet.
We've shared a conversation and laughter, but it wasn't until our eyes met that I felt a human connection. There was merriment, and there was warmth in her twinkling eyes. She could have been my grandmother in age, but in that moment, she felt like a sister.
~ Dorie
Great post, Dorie. I too often forget to actually look at the people around me. I needed that reminder. Thank you.
ReplyDelete