got a call from ‘h’ daughter number three

suddenly looking for solar eclipse glasses

we both called all of our possible sources

everyone was sold out

until

my last call

to the 7-11 store

right downtown

in the heart of the student area

the woman on the phone whispered

“the truck just came in with a shipment”

 felt like i was in a mob movie

this was magic to my ears

 the boys jumped barefoot into my car

we zoomed a few blocks to downtown

quickly pulled into an expired parking space

somewhat close to the store

(disclaimer: all of this was done safely, mom and dad,

so i’m not banned from future care taking)

just as i got out of my car

i spied a meter maid 3 cars ahead

intense and on a mission 

the boys would try to talk her out of it

if she wanted to ticket us

just then

the police arrived to have a discussion

with a group of people and their dogs

who had gathered across the street

enough to distract and delay the meter maid hopefully

ran to the store

and straight into a dead stop

right at the back of a giant line

of students ordering up grilled food

paying with change

moving slowly

apparently not needing to be anywhere

found a friendly worker

asked her if they still had the glasses

she was reluctant and nervous at first

looked around

over her shoulder

 said she could only sell me one

when i asked her

to please sell me a few more

the godfather/district manager

who happened to be in the store

 overheard and stepped in

giving her the nod/authorizing her

to sell me what i needed

she moved me up to her register

rang me up 

she was giggling and happy and smiling with the glasses in hand

my unsung hero

who worked small miracles on this day

i knew i had to sprint back to the car

but while i was in there

negotiating my deal

cement workers had arrived

and closed off the sidewalk

took a detour

made it to the car in time

with all the glasses i needed

no harm no foul

the stars had aligned

happy to have pulled off this caper

boys having learned some real life skills

 no ticket

so glad to have met a person

who went the extra mile to help

that i gave her a tip

and wrote her a haiku in gratitude.

—

hero haiku

here’s to you hero
big gulp lotto chips seller
you make people smile

—

 “for a true hero isn’t measured by the size of his strength,

but by the strength of his heart.”

(or her)

-zeus (from hercules)