an act of kindness
I remember when I was about 15, my Grandpa died. He'd been ill for a long time but I guess I didn't think he'd die as suddenly as he did. I'll never forget my Nan's face when she told us he was gone - it was like the lights in the world had all suddenly gone out and she was completely lost. My Nan was the kind of woman who did things for folk - helped 'em out when they needed things doing, visited them when they were sick, always there with a pie or a cake or somethin' - a slice of her pumpkin pie was the answer to all the questions in the universe from my way of thinkin'... She used to have a jar of boiled sweets on the top shelf of her kitchen cupboard an' no matter how busy she was, if I came visitin' she'd always find an orange sweet for me - because she knew I loved 'em...
But when Grandpa passed on, all those folk she'd helped - well, they mostly stayed away. Oh, they sent flowers an' cards but they didn't come over. I was kinda angry about that but my Mom reckoned it was because they felt uncomfortable - that they didn't know what to say. Hell, I didn't know what to say neither but I'd sit in the living room with her an' hold her hand. She didn't cry or nothin' - just looked out the window... Then on the day before the funeral, this black lady - I didn't know who she was - she turned up at the door an' asked to see my Nan. I let her in and she went through to the room and sat down next to Nan on the couch. She didn't say anythin' - just pressed her cheek tight against Nan's and put her arm round her shoulders an' held her. No-one else had done anythin' like that - there was just somethin' so wonderful about seein' their faces pressed together and I guess it was what Nan needed too 'cause she started cryin' then an' held the black woman's hand. I reckon it was the most movin' act of kindness I'd ever seen...
But when Grandpa passed on, all those folk she'd helped - well, they mostly stayed away. Oh, they sent flowers an' cards but they didn't come over. I was kinda angry about that but my Mom reckoned it was because they felt uncomfortable - that they didn't know what to say. Hell, I didn't know what to say neither but I'd sit in the living room with her an' hold her hand. She didn't cry or nothin' - just looked out the window... Then on the day before the funeral, this black lady - I didn't know who she was - she turned up at the door an' asked to see my Nan. I let her in and she went through to the room and sat down next to Nan on the couch. She didn't say anythin' - just pressed her cheek tight against Nan's and put her arm round her shoulders an' held her. No-one else had done anythin' like that - there was just somethin' so wonderful about seein' their faces pressed together and I guess it was what Nan needed too 'cause she started cryin' then an' held the black woman's hand. I reckon it was the most movin' act of kindness I'd ever seen...