Button-Coins
Across from the ancient building,
Overview of the roadside park,
Modern day mega-mall,
Chocolate delight.
All one can eat.
Competition stands mighty & real against the retail shop of day old jelly beans,
Mom & pop's candy store just drifting away 'in the used to be.'
Cobwebs covered the peppermint stick's glass displace,
Hiding the children's dirty hand-prints.
Man & woman happily in their golden years of marriage.
Opened their heart's desire in the teens with just a vision of lollipop dreams.
Remembering the flooded of little feet invading the inner halls.
Forcefully waving money into their face.
"I want this & that & what's ever left!"
Now just a wondering hope thought swept into the wind yesteryears.
Hearts of two,
Embracing encourage of one,
Not to fall into sadness.
"Life truly has been good, after all!"
They look one final glimpse overseas of the outside path,
Little girl's cheek pressed gently upon the window store.
They smile,
Their best customer yet.
She quickly dash within,
"See what grand mom gave me?"
"20 dollars of my favorite, please!"
They mull in rescued hope.
"Sorry, we cannot do that. All your gift on gum drops?"
Small look of no better,
"You took my button-coins, you can take my 20."
Faith revives the one heart.
Than mad rush,
Swinging door.
Little boy older,
"Are you crazy, sis!"
"Two for one sell over there!"
Stood firm in littleness,
"I don't care! they been good to me & too YOOOOOUUUUU!"
"And I kept our secret, I never told!"
He handed over his 20,
Saying in pondering frown,
"This is all the times that I stolen. Little sis was hungry for sweets. Mom alone,
dad left, she cries, because we cannot have the best."
Two grands beaming joy in silent weep,
"We know. Please, take it back."
Warful stare from smallness sis.
"No. It's okay. besides she will share."
"Remember what mom said to me, now it your turn, so there!"
Smiling redeemed for the future to become.
Copyright ©
Mark Hansen
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