One Play One Act
Sometimes accidental acts of kindness end up bridging the gap between the realities of every day life. For some, reality is a constant search for companionship or others it is survival and for others reality is a world of illusion and memories.
It was rather late to be shopping at the local big box store but you do what you have to when you have to. Sue pulled up and parked close to the front doors of the store as the kid pushing the karts with that funny machine went by. The parking lot was not deserted but it wasn't busy as it would have been, during the day light hours. Sue looked at her phone, it was now 11 pm and she felt tired before she even began the task at hand.
As she moved about the store she noticed a man about her age reading each label carefully and pricing each thing as he went. They both happened to end up at the deli counter at the same time.
This shopping stuff is a lot more difficult than I thought it would be. My wife warned me before she died I needed to practice but his word's seemed to trail off in thought. He looks so sad right now Sue thought, it must be hard for him, wife, died, it sounded like she cared for him and likewise.
How long has she been gone? Sue asked without even considering the invasion of his world that question might be. Almost six months, in fact it will be six months next Friday he said. He just stood there looking like he didn't know what to do or say so Sue took the lead. What are you getting at the deli? She asked. He stuck out his hand and said my name is Sam, what's yours? Sue, she said and he seemed to lighten up some and that made her feel good like it was helping just giving him someone to talk to.
How big is a pound of lunch meat Sue? Well a pound is a, what matters is how thick you slice it that controls how much you put on a sandwich, you know one or two slices as opposed to several. Sam let Sue order first and watched as the young women behind the counter sliced the meat and then the cheese. Sam ordered what he wanted. Sue and he talked about being single, how long he had been married and he volunteered how the loss had affected him. They walked and talked through all of their shopping and finally checked out waiting on one another.
As they reached their cars he suggested they have a coffee together across the street at the 24 hour restaurant. Sue almost said yes but she was tired and had frozen things in her car now and didn't want them to thaw out. As if he could read her thoughts he said, "We won't be long, I have frozen stuff like you do and neither of us want it to thaw."
So they walked across the street and sat down together talking and enjoying each others company.
After about fifteen minuets or so Sue realized that Sam would sit and talk all night if she allowed it. At that moment Sam looked up and said, "Oh high Mike, you found me again." Sue looked up and saw Mike was a rather imposing looking man well over six-foot tall and wearing suit and a name tag that hung around his neck. Mike said, Sam have you and your new friend had a nice visit? O yeah said Sam, I've told her all about my late wife and how much I miss her and how hard it is moving ahead, she is a nice lady.
It was then Sue realized something wasn't quite right with Sam. Mike looked at her with compassion and told her Sam lives with four other guys in a home for folks that have a hard time keeping what is real and what they have heard separated. Sam has never really been married, have you Sam? Sam responded with a question, Haven't I Mike, I thought so but maybe not, I'm not sure. Miked looked at Sue, I'm sorry about this mam, I turned my back long enough to go to the bathroom and then I couldn't seem to find him and it appears the whole time he was with you, please accept my apology. But what about all that food he bought he was so careful about that? Yeah, Mike answered, he memorizes list and numbers and can spell almost any word but he doesn't understand the difference between the real world and the one on TV or in the movies.
He took the money out of the kitchen fund so I can't prove to any one that he paid for the groceries I hope whoever gets will enjoy what he bought. Really he is a good shopper and a careful spender, so they should make out ok. Mike looked at Sam and asked, are you ready to go Sam?
OK, Sam replied, goodbye Sue. He got up and walked out without paying for anything or appearing to understand that she had believed him.
Poor guy she thought as she paid for the coffee. He has only one play and one-act but in a strange way it had lifted her spirit to listen to the story he wove. It made her feel needed and helpful to someone who is truly lost, so it wasn't lost time at all. As she walked to her car she saw a family approach the car, Sam had put all the food be bought. They all looked tired and you had a sense that they could use a boost right about now. The man opened the back door of the car to put the bag of groceries in as the two children got in the other side. He looked all around and noticed Sue watching them. Hay lady, he shouted, did you see who put their food in our car, they made a mistake. Sue didn't really answer at first she just watched. The man started to put the food Sam bought in a basket to take it back inside. Sue finally spoke to them. You don't have to do that I know the man who put the food in there and I don't think he made a mistake, I think he chose your car. But why would he do that? Asked the man. Well, I guess the best thing to say is that it makes him happy to share his world with others, Sue responded. Enjoy and be careful driving home she said as she started her car and left watching the man and woman hug each other in her rear view mirror.
As she moved about the store she noticed a man about her age reading each label carefully and pricing each thing as he went. They both happened to end up at the deli counter at the same time.
This shopping stuff is a lot more difficult than I thought it would be. My wife warned me before she died I needed to practice but his word's seemed to trail off in thought. He looks so sad right now Sue thought, it must be hard for him, wife, died, it sounded like she cared for him and likewise.
How long has she been gone? Sue asked without even considering the invasion of his world that question might be. Almost six months, in fact it will be six months next Friday he said. He just stood there looking like he didn't know what to do or say so Sue took the lead. What are you getting at the deli? She asked. He stuck out his hand and said my name is Sam, what's yours? Sue, she said and he seemed to lighten up some and that made her feel good like it was helping just giving him someone to talk to.
How big is a pound of lunch meat Sue? Well a pound is a, what matters is how thick you slice it that controls how much you put on a sandwich, you know one or two slices as opposed to several. Sam let Sue order first and watched as the young women behind the counter sliced the meat and then the cheese. Sam ordered what he wanted. Sue and he talked about being single, how long he had been married and he volunteered how the loss had affected him. They walked and talked through all of their shopping and finally checked out waiting on one another.
As they reached their cars he suggested they have a coffee together across the street at the 24 hour restaurant. Sue almost said yes but she was tired and had frozen things in her car now and didn't want them to thaw out. As if he could read her thoughts he said, "We won't be long, I have frozen stuff like you do and neither of us want it to thaw."
So they walked across the street and sat down together talking and enjoying each others company.
After about fifteen minuets or so Sue realized that Sam would sit and talk all night if she allowed it. At that moment Sam looked up and said, "Oh high Mike, you found me again." Sue looked up and saw Mike was a rather imposing looking man well over six-foot tall and wearing suit and a name tag that hung around his neck. Mike said, Sam have you and your new friend had a nice visit? O yeah said Sam, I've told her all about my late wife and how much I miss her and how hard it is moving ahead, she is a nice lady.
It was then Sue realized something wasn't quite right with Sam. Mike looked at her with compassion and told her Sam lives with four other guys in a home for folks that have a hard time keeping what is real and what they have heard separated. Sam has never really been married, have you Sam? Sam responded with a question, Haven't I Mike, I thought so but maybe not, I'm not sure. Miked looked at Sue, I'm sorry about this mam, I turned my back long enough to go to the bathroom and then I couldn't seem to find him and it appears the whole time he was with you, please accept my apology. But what about all that food he bought he was so careful about that? Yeah, Mike answered, he memorizes list and numbers and can spell almost any word but he doesn't understand the difference between the real world and the one on TV or in the movies.
He took the money out of the kitchen fund so I can't prove to any one that he paid for the groceries I hope whoever gets will enjoy what he bought. Really he is a good shopper and a careful spender, so they should make out ok. Mike looked at Sam and asked, are you ready to go Sam?
OK, Sam replied, goodbye Sue. He got up and walked out without paying for anything or appearing to understand that she had believed him.
Poor guy she thought as she paid for the coffee. He has only one play and one-act but in a strange way it had lifted her spirit to listen to the story he wove. It made her feel needed and helpful to someone who is truly lost, so it wasn't lost time at all. As she walked to her car she saw a family approach the car, Sam had put all the food be bought. They all looked tired and you had a sense that they could use a boost right about now. The man opened the back door of the car to put the bag of groceries in as the two children got in the other side. He looked all around and noticed Sue watching them. Hay lady, he shouted, did you see who put their food in our car, they made a mistake. Sue didn't really answer at first she just watched. The man started to put the food Sam bought in a basket to take it back inside. Sue finally spoke to them. You don't have to do that I know the man who put the food in there and I don't think he made a mistake, I think he chose your car. But why would he do that? Asked the man. Well, I guess the best thing to say is that it makes him happy to share his world with others, Sue responded. Enjoy and be careful driving home she said as she started her car and left watching the man and woman hug each other in her rear view mirror.
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