I DON’T DO IT FOR THE GLORY

(First excuse any typo’s as doing this on my iPad)

She walks in hot and disheveled. 

She asks for nothing except if the owner of

One of my favorite antique stores would be interested

In some rare, numbered plates. 

I am checking out an old doll refrigerator,

One I had as a kid, same color and all....

She is different from the beggar in the parking lot

Who holds a sign and asks Tiffy and I for money.

At first I am not sure if her identity is male or female

But then she turn to me and she is very female, 

Holding a sweet baby girl in her arms. 

She is a big baby, but her Mother carries her. 

They both are hot and sweaty, the baby not so clean

But definitely loved. 

What makes her different to me than the beggar I just told

“I have no cash”?

Because she is willing to give up something for help,

At first the male owner tells that he has lots of plates. 

As she pulls them out of her back pack, 

I realize she is not going to give up just yet. 

I don’t know her story but I know it’s one of survival. 

I understand survival. 

I open my wallet to pay and I hand her a few bills

Where no one can see. 

She asks “what’s that for?”

I shake my head, turn and continue checking out. 

I try to mind my own business but the owner has seen 

What I have done. He buys the plates. 

As she leaves she tells me in a low voice 

“God bless you”

I say nothing. The owner says to me

“ I was not going to buy those plates but I couldn’t let

You be the only one who helped.” 

I meant to keep this to myself but this morning my thoughts are only

Of this Mother and child. 

I hope they ate
 well last night. 

I hope they had a safe place to lay their head. 

The baby watched me the whole time. I hope as she grows life

Becomes easier for them 

Yet I have great respect for a Mother who carries her baby through

The scorching heat of Louisiana, selling something 

That probably was important to her but not as important as

Her child. I hope one day the Mother tells the child

About the kindness of strangers that was bestowed

To them “ That day”

Some may say I write this for the pat on the back. 

They would be wrong. 

I write this because whatever her story is, if we can,

We should help those who really are trying to help themselves. 

If I can spend two free nights at LeBerge Casino with my niece,

Who is more like my sister, and I can gamble a few

Twenties that I earn by selling my art, I surely can make sure this lil

Family eats. 

I don’t do it for the glory.