Change
It was oddly warm and the sun was shining.
Days like that are rare in this city so it makes everyone wander the streets to soak each other in.
I wanted some juice and to be outside so we headed off to the party store.
As we approached the store we saw a middle aged woman sitting in a wheelchair next to the door.
Her lips spread wide across her face, exposing a large gap between her teeth.
“HEY, BABIES!” a loud boisterous voice filled my ears. My friend and I both smiled.
“Can you go in the store fo’ me, please?” her voice dropping a couple octaves “They have kind of baaad attitudes. I’m lible ta’ say somthin ta’ one of those assholes, git myself thrown out. HAHAHA!”
“Sure.” my friend piped up.
The woman reached into her pocket and pulled out a scratch ticket, handing it to me she said,
“It’s worth $3. I just want a half pint of Canadian Windsor. It’s $2.49 or something.”
“I can’t. I don’t have my ID on me.” as the words slipped out of my lips I chuckled to myself. No one in this city, in this part of town was going to card me…or anyone else for that matter.
Glancing up at my friend and then back at this woman, “Hey, you should go for her.” I suggested, still laughing.
“Umm…I guess.” reluctantly my girlfriend took the ticket and walked into the store. I followed, headed straight for the cooler and grabbed my juice.
When I returned to the scene outside they were both grinning.
“What are you listening to?” my girlfriend asked the gap-toothed, woman in the chair asked.
Bursting into laughter, “HALL AND OATES, BABY! You know the one? SARA SMILE!” and with that she started to sing.
There was no composure left to be had. We were almost in tears.
“I LOVE YOU BABIES, I LOVE YOU BOTH SO MUCH!”
“YOU’RE GOING TO LAUGH! HAHAHA!” she reached into her bag. After a moment of digging her hands reached out to each of us with ripe tangerines.
It was too much, she was infectious.
Food for service.
“Enjoy the sunshine.” I said as we walked away.
My friend leaned in, still smiling, “She even gave me the change.”
