Sunlight & Soul Light

Matthew BeharjuniorFogged UpSo I walk out of the store and it's raining. My glasses make the world seemblurry. I see a family in the parking lot slowly making their waytoward the door. Being me, I hold the door open for the three. As theyapproached the woman speed-walked holding her son’s hand andmade a break for the door. "Oh thank you" she said, her voice old and frailas she made a beeline past me through the door. She was about half thesize of me but her son towered over me. I saw his face above the rim ofmy glasses, I clearly saw he had a strange face. He wore glasses muchlarger then mine. He silently nodded his head as he followed his oldmother inside.Next in the rain came the father. At this point I took my glasses off to seethem clearly. He was much older then the mother it seemed. In a mostgenuine voice he said, "you are the nicest person I met in a long time." Iwas taken aback, all I could say was "thanks" in response. He went to joinhis family who was waiting for him inside and I went back to walking homein the rain.I put my glasses back on and thought about the father’s compliment. I feltgood about it, feeling warm in the rain until the words, "in a long time" rangin my head. How long is a long time for someone who is that age?! Amonth? A year? More? I don't know, but the world hasn't shown him orhis family kindness in a long time.It might be my glasses, but the world seems so fogged up.10