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Red Marbles
Other
 Created on 3-27-08
 Views(30)
 Story Rating G
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A good friend was at a small corner grocery store buying some potatoes. He noticed a small boy, very fragile and ragged, but clean, hungrily apprising a basket of freshly picked green peas.
He paid for his potatoes, but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. He was a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, he couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to him.
"Hello Barry, how are you today?"
"Hello, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank you. Just admiring those peas. They sure look good."
"They are good Barry. How's your ma?"
"Fine. Getting stronger all the time."
"Good. Anything I can help you with?"
"No, sir. Just admiring the peas."
"Would you like to take some home?" asked Mr. Miller.
"No sir. I've got nothing to pay for them with."
"Well, what have you got to trade me for some of those peas."
"All I have is my prize marble here."
"Is that right? Let me see it," said Miller.
"Here it is. She's a dandy."
"I can see that. Hmmmm, the only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?" the store owner asked.
"Not exactly, but almost."
"Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way, let me look at that red marble," Mr. Miller told the boy.
"Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller."
Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help my friend. With a smile, she said, "There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble, or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store."
My friend left the store smiling to himself, impressed with this man. A short time later, he moved to Colorado, but never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.
Several years went by. Recently, my friend had the opportunity to visit some old friends in that small Idaho community and while he was there, he learned that Mr. Miller had just died. They were having his visitation that evening and knowing that his friend's wanted to go, my friend agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary, they fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort they could.
Ahead of them in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform, and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits, and white shirts. All were very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugger her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket.
Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.
My friend's turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. He told her who he was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told him about her husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took his hand and led him to the casket.
"Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size...they came to pay their debt. We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world," she confided, "but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho."
With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.
Comments
Please Login to post comments| On May 29th 2008 clackamasgirl Said : | |
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wow O_O.......... i hope u dont mind if i put all ur stories in my blog? =O |
