“A Hand Up”

As she parked the car in the back of the building, she noted the heavily-coated man walking into the light, coming toward her.

Bundled up tight against the icy night air, he hoisted two bags she surmised were full of bottles.

As he passed, he said nothing and asked for nothing, seeming content upon his purpose.

Suddenly inspired to add to his cause, she hailed him as he moved away, and asked if he was collecting.

He said yes, and after they discussed the heavy weight of her contribution, they arranged to meet at his rest stop in 15 minutes.

When the time came, she drove to meet him.

As she pulled up, he shed his outer layers, revealing a decent shirt and pants, as if he wanted her to see him as a worthy human.

He told her his name, then she gave hers, and she said how happy she was to have met him.

He thanked her, sharing that he was saving up to get a certain kind of phone and that she was helping him boost to meet his goal.

She donated three bags of empty No. 1 Rosemary Water bottles, sure that the creators and shareholders would be happy to have their ingenuity in spirit expanded.

Her family needed the little bit of money that recycling gleaned, but this man had carved a niche for himself that she felt needed promotion.