The Purple Patch - Missouri Valley College

“No,” I hesitated, “I suppose it can’t. I really miss my family.”
“Oh, and I’m sure they miss you too.” We exchanged smiles
as recognition of understanding. “You know how toh tell where you
belong You close your eyes and t’ink about what makes you happy.
T’at’s what you love.”
I could see my university only a few blocks away. “Thank you,
sir.” I graciously smiled at him for his advice, even though I attained
it in a rather unforeseeable fashion.
“Not a problem.” He gently smiled as he pulled into the
school’s driveway.
I looked at the odometer—$45.17— grabbing a taxi between
boroughs is not the most economical means of transportation. I
reached into my purse and pulled out a fifty.
“Here, and again thank you so much.” I leaned forward and
handed him his payment.
“No, Ma’am. I can’t accept that.”
“I’m sorry”
“It was a pleasure to talk with you. Most people are not so accommodating,
and even t’ough I spend all day with people, I’m always
alone. Really, it was my pleasure.” At that he smiled, I got out of the
car and went into my dorm room.
That night I drifted into a majestic dream-world. It was the
most beautiful landscape I had ever seen. When I looked up, I saw lush
vivacious trees. I heard the river a few miles off. It appeared to be
singing nature’s song in harmony with the creatures of the forest.
I woke up.
Closing my eyes, I tried to recount the dream. It wasn’t some
distant land or an imagined world. It was my backyard. My home. A
stranger’s kindness serving as a compass took me there. It’s where I
needed to be going.
And it’s where I belonged.
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