The Stranger ... The Returns From Memoir, A Dot In Time
My old CD chimed within my car, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, as I waited in the parking lot. Outside the store a lady fidgeted with the Redbox kiosk, trying to get her movie. She
pulled her sweater collar around her neck. I decided to wait, wrapped in the joyful
sound, and delighted to sense my heater's gentle breathing on my sandaled toes.
Suddenly, I became aware of the presence.
A diminutive figure stood in front of my
car like a lone reed.
Oh, no. I thought. He doesn't know I've been waiting. He'll get
ahead of me. I wanted to return the movie and get on with life. Errands to run,
bathrooms to clean, Christmas presents still to wrap.
I scanned over the fellow before me. His
beige, shabby jacket, faded jeans, day-old beard, chopped cropped hair ... and
those glasses! Round glass circles, thick, thick, thick. And what pulled me in
and glued me to them was that yellow tint.
My mind reeled fast like an out of control broken movie projector. Oh my
goodness. Did he have that tint put in intentionally? I traced his figure down
a bit and discovered the mustard shirt inside his jacket. Was the tint the
reflection of that material? And, I smiled to myself. Mischief crept in. He's
not a reed. He's Mr. Hotdog! Mustard and all.
I scooted out of my car, hoping Mr. Hotdog
would let me go next. I stared into thick yellow tinted glasses on the small
face occupied by a giant smile. "You were here first," he said.
"Thank you. It's only a return,"
I said. His smile got wider.
I plunged myself into the machinery to
return my DVD but could not get it to
work. One way and another I seemed to place it in the wrong way. Frustrated I
glanced at the stranger patiently waiting.
"Could you help me, sir? I never
returned one of these before."
He worked at putting the DVD on the right
side facing the right way. It took a few tries to get it just right and I
thanked him.
"You're welcome. Sometimes I also
have problems with the returns."
I turned hurriedly to leave. But, heard
his voice once again. "Merry Christmas." Merry Christmas?
I stopped and looked back into his thick
tinted glasses. "Merry Christmas!" I returned.
Do not
forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained
angels without knowing it. Hebrews
13:2
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