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By: Jim Fitzpatrick |
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Email: jim@nunica.com |
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Local Farmer in Polkton Township writes for the Coopersville Observer. |
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Along Brandy Creek By Jim Fitzpatrick
The Coopersville Observer October 24, 2011- - No. 118 |
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She sorted through the mound of bright red tomatoes displayed in the young man’s stall at the Fulton Street Farmer’s Market. “I’ll take these three”, said the woman quietly without looking up. She was a person of moderate stature, her solid frame somewhat stooped and bent with the passing years. She placed her purchase carefully on top of an already overloaded shopping bag, the small wheels at its base collapsing under the weight of other fruits and vegetables. The partially filled plastic bags hanging from the bend in her left arm troubled her as she struggled to continue along.
A fellow standing nearby politely offered to help her make the move on to her car. “Oh no”, she said. “I will be taking the bus in a few minutes up there and on the other side of the street”. She nodded as she spoke, in the direction of the nearby bus stop; at the same time busily rearranging the tomatoes in along side the green beans that were threatening to spill over the edge. Both he and she hunched over the bulging shopping bag as her words to him caught the attention of those standing nearby. “I’ve never had anyone offer to help me like this before”, she said, showing a slight but broken smile in appreciation of the assistance.
The shopping bag was heavy. He struggled to keep it from hitting the sidewalk as she slowly and silently moved on ahead of him in the direction of the bus stop. They reached the street and turned left to the crosswalk. Twice in route the straps of the bag gave way and had to be tied in place. The two of them worked together at the minor repair work as the bus stop seemed to get further away. He asked her name. “Joyce”, she said. To make conversation he inquired as to what part of town she lived. Hesitantly she told him and then asked why he wanted to know.
They reached their destination, the bus she would be riding could be seen in the distance coming their way. She assured the man before he turned away that the bus driver would lower his wheelchair lift to make it easy for her to enter her ride. |
