A bunch of smiles

While walking around the tankbund this morning I saw a bunch of geese which reminded of an incident happened during my childhood.

Its about an old lady who lives in our neighborhood. She is the grand mother of our friend, Bobby.

The old lady is mean. Real mean. She used to yell and hit kids with a broom the other day because they went to get the ball in her yard. We were petrified. You should have seen our eyes.

She deflates the tires of people who park their bicycles outside her house.

The old lady is mean. Real mean. She complains to the parents if someone in the neighborhood disturbs her afternoon sleep by knocking the door to call Bobby.

The old lady is mean. Real mean.

I don’t think she has smiled since she was born.

Not until that day.

I saw her down at the park on Boats Club Lake walking that morning.

That morning the mean old lady was scowling at some kids who were feeding the geese.

Suddenly one of the geese chased the group of kids who ran off giggling excitedly. One of the kids was rather slow and the goose managed to nip him on the backside. The kid cried and burst into the most delightful, hearty laugh as he ran into his mum’s arms.

It was so cute that everyone around found themselves smiling.

Even the mean old lady.

Right, it was only a two second smile that was framed by a scowl.

Never the less it was a smile.

And I saw it.

I hoped and prayed she would get to enjoy a few more of those that holiday season.