THE L A LAKERS AND WILLY MAYS

A young man frequents our bookstore looking for sports books that interest him
and…when we happens to spy them…
he asks us to hold them for him until he has enough money to buy them.

He was in the other night and immediately his gaze
fell upon a book about the L. A. Lakers and one about Willy Mays.

As he went back and forth between the two books….he looked a bit bemused…
You see, both books cost ten dollars…which made it hard for him to choose

He finally decided on Willy Mays…
and when I asked if he wanted us to hold it he said, “That would be great!
I’ll have enough money by the end of next week.”
Then looking back he said, “I guess the Lakers will have to wait.”

After he left…an older man whom I’ve never seen before…
but who obviously is kind-hearted…
brought the L. A. Laker book up to the counter saying,
“I’d like to buy this and the Willy Mays book for the man who just departed.”

I thanked this man profusely…and as I put the two books into a gift bag
I asked him if on the bag there was anything he wanted to say…
He shook his head and smiled, 
“Just tell the young man when he comes back…
to enjoy the books and have a nice day.”

I don’t know if I’ll ever see this man again…
but I shall forever remember the kindness he showed that day…
when he bought a book about the L. A. Lakers
and one about Willy Mays…

Yes, in a world where hatred, greed and evil…is running rampant…
it’s a moment I’ll never forget…
the day a man I never knew spent twenty dollars on two books 
to give to a man he never met.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2025


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