Standing in line at Goodwill to pay for a book that I’ve almost
purchased a few times before, there’s a mother in front of me with two
very small children.
The boy is around 3 years old and is crying non-stop about something,
while the mother completely ignores him.
The girl is about 4 and is dressed in a full-length skirt and a thick,
long sleeve sweater. Her face makes me think of Frida Kahlo
because in fact she looks like a four year old version her.
Focusing on her brother she puts her hand on his shoulder and clearly
says to him, “Don’t cry. It’s not worth it!”
Immediately he diminishes his crying until all that’s left is a very
sad face.
As the little girl and I make eye contact I nod seriously and meaningfully
to her, feeling that I just witnessed something truly amazing.
As they walk out the door, she puts her arm around his shoulder…
# # #
Jeffrey Zable is a teacher and conga drummer who plays Afro Cuban Folkloric music for dance classes and Rumbas around the San Francisco Bay Area. His poetry, fiction, and non-fiction have appeared in hundreds of literary magazines and anthologies. Recent writing in Serving House Journal, Mocking Heart Review, Kairos, Third Wednesday, Futures Trading, Tower Journal, Jokes Review, Fear of Monkeys and many others.
Photo: Christina Salomon
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