Myaogu'irce Park: She nearly cried

"Have you heard the news?" The old man who sits at the bench every Wednesday shouted abruptly. He raised his right finger into the air as though he stood before an audience. A smile stretched out long and wide across his face so big you'd think it might kill him. This was an act I'd seen played out many a time before.

Keeping quiet as I had so many times before I watched carefully the quickness in his eyes as they darted from spectator to spectator looking for an easy target. I knew his game and it wasn't a good one. First he'll pretend to die. Then when you run over to help him in any way you could he'll revive himself and snatch you're wallet. Just like a shot out of a gun he would run off and you'd be left standing there holding the bag.

"Today is my…" right on queue the old man dropped to the ground and curled up in the fetal position. He groaned a moment as if hurt and then died. His death was a result of medication negligence. That was something most people weren't privy to. Then a girl approached with hast while breathing heavily.

She threw herself to her knees to obtain a position leaning over the old man. "Oh my gosh!" she uttered. Reaching for her phone all at once the old man leapt into the air with spry movement and like a bat out of hell disappeared beyond the sights of the bench where she knelt.

I sighed and walked past her glancing only a moment to let her see my eyes. She knew now what a fool she'd just made herself to be. But she saw in my eyes that I admired her caring attitude. It was good to see someone who cared more for others than for themselves.

So I turned, what compelled me to do this I'm not quite sure, and I approached her with a smile. She was beautiful, and she allowed me to help her up. A single tear was in her eye. I looked at her with a look most sincere. "Don't worry; I know where he'll take it." I said while retrieving a sheet of note paper from my day planner. I quickly wrote down the instructions that would lead her to recover her stolen wallet. As I gave her the paper she handed me her card and smiled. Then she turned and started off following the directions I had given her. With that I continued on my way, thinking ever more about calling her and what I might say. I finally decided though to just throw her card away.