Small Packages
Small Packages
She was so cute.
Standing in the check-out line
Pretty dark golden-brown skin
Five foot tall? Not even that, I thought
Seventy years old? Maybe more
High top laced black shoes,
Black stockings and skirt
Black check with gold stripe skirt –
Gold quilted jacket topped with a
Red and gold sun hat -- brim turned downward
Big smile, big glasses and soft voice
Gentle and kindness exuded
She was standing there to be checked out
Her taupe vinyl purse was lying in the grocery cart
The purse didn’t fit the image. I wanted to say,
“Ma’am, you need to watch your purse:”
That is until I saw her open her jacket right side.-
I saw that she had on a jumper when
She lifted her right hand and placed inside the jumper top
“What is she doing?” I wondered
Aha! From somewhere – I don’t know where –
She pulled out a small unwrapped package secured with rubber bands.
It was time to pay for her merchandise
“Eight dollars and twenty-three cents,” the clerk said;
Very carefully, the elderly lady unfolded her fives that were together
Then, she unfolded her ones that were together
And from a separate pocket she counted out the change.
I could tell she had tens folded together and
Twenties folded together – all denominations separate;
It looked like her important cards were in the packet with the bills,
“You sure are organized,” I said.
“Things don’t go far now days,” she said,
Smiling as she placed her small rubber-band secured bundle
Back into “the someplace” inside her jumper top,
Such a complete little package--
Decoy and all
-Evelyn Pearl Carpenter Anderson
April 10, 2014
Copyright © E. Pearl Anderson | Year Posted 2023
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