altie-
there's a old woman who lives here - she's
92, a school teacher originally from england.
she's been here since the thirties.
annie is practically toothless - one large
yellow tooth remaining next to where her eye
tooth used to be. she's a character. she
walks all over town in her pink plastic raincoat
and when she's tired, just stops and waits for
someone to stop and give her a ride and someone
always does. always.
she was in the liquor store the other day, all
in a quandry. she wanted to buy some brandy
to pour on her fruitcake, but the smallest bottle
they had was the mickey size and that was too
big. she was looking for the teeny tiny bottles
that contain and ounce or two.
there was a 6 ounce bottle of rum but she wasn't
sure about that because it was white rum - not the
right colour, but i assured her that it would
taste just as good, and she could save what she
had left over for next year's cake.
she thought about that for a minute and seemed
to think it was a good idea, so off she went to
pay for it with a cheque.
well - if they don't take cheques! now what?
i went over to the cash desk and said i'd buy
her rum for her and she turned her wizened little
face and looked up at me with her bright blue eyes
and asked, "will you take my cheque?" i said no, this
is a christmas gift. she was very gracious in
accepting. asked me my name and mulled that over
for a while - rose white, white rose - that kind of
thing. i said, i'd like to have a piece of her
cake though. "oh" she said. "i don't have it yet.
i'm going over to the co-op to buy it now" and flashed
toothless grin and off she went.
i had an ache in my heart.
she reminded me of my mom.
i don't know who gave who the christmas present. |
