Youth

It came to the attention of a small shoe shine kid that the man, whose shoes he’s been cleaning, was sad. He seemed to have been looking somewhere undetermined, searching, more with his soul than with his eyes, the object of his fixation.

“Why are you sad sir? It is a beautiful day today.”

Said the shoe shine kid, smiling at his customer.

The man looked at him with a smile. Gently the wind rose from the ground and leaves yellow and red flew across the street.

“Thank you kid. Here you go. Keep the change.”

“Thank you very much sir. Have a nice day.”

The man left the boy. Looking at the reflection in his shoes, he saw the imprint of a youthfull smile. He smiled back. A soft, yellow leaf flew down on his shoulder. The man cried.