It was a quick run to the “Little Kroger,” fondly designated as such because of its convenient location in our four-square-mile town and because of its comparison to the recently renovated and enlarged “Big Kroger” several miles away.
Just into my roughly half-mile journey, I saw a man walking, with a winter coat slung over his shoulder with a one-finger hook. This was summer; our temp was more than 90 degrees. Why in the world was he carrying a winter coat? Mine were stored in a closet and had been since daffodils had shot their little yellow heads out of the ground.
My thoughts and I motored on. And then it hit me. His back was probably his closet. Even in this little hamlet, some residents don’t have a residence.
On down the street, one of those boats they called cars in the 1960’s was parked on the side. It was eggshell blue. Resting in the rolled-down, driver’s side window was an arm with a T-shirt sleeve with a few tattoos creeping down the arm.
Why was he parked there? It all seemed legal, but a bit out of place. Ah, maybe a movie is being filmed here and he is part of that. Many are, and we frequently see the crew or extras—and maybe even sometimes we get a glimpse of a star! So, I decided that’s why this man was where he was.
These almost insignificant sightings played around in my mind as I waited for red lights to turn green, and I rather marveled at this interesting place, that “little” things command my attention, making me think a bit.
The great diversity that is my town greeted me when I reached the Little Kroger—as did a great appreciation for this particular store. If not for this store, many people living here would be living in a food desert.
It is a quick stop for those of us who don’t relish traversing the bigger store just to pick up a couple of things. But, for many, it is literally their lifeline. I recall the time I watched a young boy—probably nine or so—holding a grocery list in one hand and pushing a filled-up cart toward the cash register. It was obvious that the checkout clerks knew this young man and his not-present grandmother, for whom presumably he was shopping. He left the store still pushing that cart. I’ve seen numerous people walking into and out of the store, people who were not getting out of or into a car in the parking lot.
It was in another parking lot in our town where a man approached me, saying, “I’m not asking for money, but I’m hungry. Will you buy me something to eat?” He followed me into a drugstore that carried packaged food, and I bought him something.
Hunger is real. Opportunity limited. Even here.
All this on a quick run to the Little Kroger.
P.S. I saw the closet man again. He was wearing his closet—in 90 degree weather.
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