A flower for me

63 Replies

 

As I walked out the train depot, I saw his familiar face from afar. He has taken over the position from Mr. Jim, the white-haired veteran whose presence has been a staple at this corner of the corridor connecting people to the bustling city life.

I used to give something every time I walked by Mr. Jim, before he retired, until he said to me one day, “You don’t have to do this every time you walk by me you know?”

I looked at him puzzled.

“I mean, you don’t need to pay to get out of jail every time you pass by me.”

I laughed at his witty reference to the game Monopoly and his prime guarding position. “So I can just pass go?”

“Yes sweetie. I know your heart is in the right place.”

Now it is the new guy’s job to be holding that telltale locked red tin box outside the train station during morning rush hours. New Guy. That’s what I call him inside my head. I have not asked him his name yet.

It was easier for me to ask Mr. Jim for his name because he’s in his 80s, I think, and there was no risk of my curiosity and may I say good manners being mistaken for some sort of brash romantic advance. But the new guy is younger, well, younger than 80, and I did not want to give any wrong impressions. Mr. Jim loved to hold my hand while we talked and I let him flirt with me because I enjoyed seeing the sparkles in his eyes when he laughed.

I have noticed that less people stop to chat with New Guy as they had done with Mr. Jim. I am not sure whether it is because of the missing front teeth that strike people as unsettling. Or perhaps at merely middle age, he has not earned the right to hang that sign above his head that says “I am very old so yes it is ok to talk sweet nothing to me.” I also noticed that very quickly New Guy added a suit jacket and a fedora in addition to his original ensemble consisted of a pressed white dress shirt and tie.

Not wanting him to feel unwelcome in the midst of the ecosystem of harried suburban commuters, I make a point to say hi to him whenever I see him even though I no longer stop to chat.

This morning I stopped to put a folded dollar bill through the slit on the top of the red tin box.

“How are you doing?”

He smiled and I could see the gap in his mouth where the front teeth should have been. It no longer looked unsettling. It felt familiar now. I saw that his smile was genuine through his eyes which warmed my heart.

“Oh. Wait. Take this.” He held up a flower to my face. “Put it in the button hole here,” he pointed to the lapel on my trench coat, “Someone gave it to me but it won’t fit in mine.”

“How come it doesn’t fit in yours?” I took the flower from his outstretched hand and leaned closer to look at his brown tweed jacket.

“Because it’s sewed!” He laughed. I laughed too because somehow it was amusing.

“Well, cut it open or something and I will bring a flower for you next time!”

He looked surprised and then quickly became a bit bashful. “Nah. You don’t have to bring me a flower.”

“We’ll see about that. Thanks for the flower!”

I could almost break out into a song when I was walking towards my office building, with a flower in my hand. All this time I thought I was doing him a favor, turns out it’s the other way around.

I cannot wait for spring to come.

63 thoughts on “A flower for me”

  4. Sandra

    I loved this post. Clearly both you and New Guy have hearts of gold.
    You gotta give Mr. Jim credit though for being so witty, with his “Get out of jail’ reference.
    Sandra recently posted…Blogging blahsMy Profile

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  5. SisterMerryHellish

    You, my Lovey, are the living example of why we need forgo appearance and reach out to one another. How many other people were GIFTED a flower for their lapel by a someone becoming less of a stranger with every word past both your lips?

    Love you HARD and with a sea of flowers, just for you!
    SisterMerryHellish recently posted…Stream of UnconsciousnessMy Profile

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  8. The Sweetest

    Aw, Lin- this was really sweet. Isn’t it something, that in simply having a good intention you walked away with so much more than a lovely flower. And your probably made his day, too.
    The Sweetest recently posted…Hmph!My Profile

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    1. Absence Alternatives Post author

      I have been trying to act on my good intentions. Sometimes I find myself so jaded that I’d stop myself from doing something that I know should help but I am afraid that people may actually be annoyed/upset. Does this even make sense?

      Reply ↓
  10. lifeintheboomerlane

    I’m fairly sure I’ve experienced Spring every year since I’ve been born. Yet each year I am dumfounded by its arrival. It’s like the mailman knocking on my door on a Sunday and saying “Hey, we know there’s no mail delivery today but there are some incredible things for you so we decided to make an exception in your case.” and then handing me the envelopes and packages. Or something like that.

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  14. Beka

    What a bright note this post is! Like a harbinger of Spring. Your last post churned up thoughts of life’s small disappointments, but this one reminds me of all the little moments of happiness we can grasp along the way if we’re open to them. The kindness between you and New Guy is a beautiful thing. I had three very scary looking men approach my car the other day and motion for me to roll down my window; they were letting me know that one of my tires needed air. I have too much life experience to be blindly trusting, but I hope that I am still as unjaded as you are. Thank you.
    Beka recently posted…Spring Is Springing Up EverywhereMy Profile

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    1. Absence Alternatives Post author

      You know I am not always like this. ^_^ And of course I am not always cynical. (even though my oldest called me “Ms. Cynical” today. The irony eh?) That’s why I am grateful for this kind gesture from the Salvation Army guy. Sometimes it does feel much better to believe in the kindness of strangers wholeheartedly.

      Reply ↓
  17. TechnoBabe

    I so like that you really see people you come across in your regular life. Looking people in the eyes enough to see the genuine twinkle. I am glad you are there for them.
    TechnoBabe recently posted…FriendMy Profile

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    1. Absence Alternatives Post author

      I try to remember to watch out for my own prejudices and assumptions I unconsciously made of people. Confession: I still need to overcome my spontaneous dislike of skinny pretty well-dressed women with coveted handbags who can run in high heels…

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  18. Irene

    That’s touching! And you probably made his day! That’s gratifying! No, it doesn’t have to have moral or a proper ending….it was an experience you’re sharing with others. Sort of a good “Twilight Zone”.

    Reply ↓
  23. Life with Kaishon

    I really, really, REALLY love this post. So beautiful.
    I am glad that you make a difference in the world.
    Thank you for reminding me to be on the lookout for kindness.
    Life with Kaishon recently posted…GNOMy Profile

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  27. Nicole Welkener

    This was so beautiful! Your words painted such a vivid image in my mind’s eye. Thank you for sharing this!

    Reply ↓

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