Every morning my father would walk with me to the bus stop and wait for the school bus. No matter the weather, he never missed a day. Once I was safely on my way to school, he would go to work at the bagel store right on the corner by the bus stop.
Dad was a widower raising me on his own. My mother died from a fever when I was still an infant and I don’t have any memories of her. We had no other family nearby and dad did everything himself. I never heard him complain and I knew I was loved. Dad always packed small bagel pieces in my lunch bag; he sprinkled them with sugar and cinnamon and I giggled when he told me they were the ‘bagel holes’.
Next door to the bagel store was a shoe repair shop. A young woman sat in the window busily attaching new soles onto worn shoes. Sometimes she would stitch together a tattered handbag; I liked to watch her work, her fingers deftly plying the leather and pulling the needle through.
The shoe lady never looked up from her work but I could tell she was beautiful. She had dark brown hair that fell over her shoulders and long eyelashes. I asked my father if he thought she was pretty but he said he hadn’t noticed.
One morning during a rainstorm, we stood under the awning of the shoe shop. I watched the lady in the window and this time my dad watched her, too. She must have become aware of our presence and she looked up at us. I don’t know if it was a thunderclap or some other force of nature but when her eyes met my dad’s, the shop’s big front window shook and the lights inside flickered.
The next morning on our way to the bus stop, I noticed dad was carrying a worn pair of shoes – and he was softly humming. I said nothing but my heart began to dance. Together we walked into the shoe repair shop and the lady smiled shyly at us. She was indeed very beautiful. Dad handed her his shoes and asked if they could be repaired. Their fingers touched and neither one pulled away. The lady said dad’s shoes would be ready in four days.
Each morning after that as we waited for the bus we would smile and wave at the lady in the window. She’d smile and wave back, her gaze lingering on my father’s handsome face. On the afternoon of day four dad picked up his repaired shoes. He surprised the lady by giving her a bag of warm bagel holes sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon. The shoe lady peeked into the bag and laughed gaily, saying she never had such a treat. She and my dad smiled radiantly at each other for a long time.
That was chapter one of our happily ever after. Now every morning both my dad and the shoe lady walk with me to the bus stop; he holds my right hand and she holds my left. From the bus window I watch them walk to work, their heads close together and their fingers intertwined, and my heart does a little dance.
NAR © 2022
The Elephant's Trunk 
What a beautiful
Happy story you created Tenderly written Celebrating children! Maybe one of your grandchildren is reflected her Nancy which I know is your pride and joy!💕❤️
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Seeing life through the eyes of a child. We all need to take some time out and do that. The world can be such a beautiful place if we have the faith of a little child. Thank you for your very kind words! 💕
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Yes this is so true Nancy and you shared it so well! You’re most welcome. Alway!
💕♥️❤️
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What a beautiful love story as seen through the eyes of a child. Simply love it. I can see them walking together hands entwined both so grateful and happy. I love the way the little girl was so excited, I think for her father to be happy and to have a mom perhaps. Have a blessed week. Thank you for this lovely story.
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Yes! Exactly what the little girl wanted was for her father to find someone who loved him as much as he loved his little girl. She was the tiny matchmaker in the story! 💕
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I loved it. I too have been a matchmaker. I think when we are happy we don’t want to see others alone and unhappy. Lovely ending too. ❤️
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Wow, this is such a pretty love story. My heart skipped warmly at the description of the lady’s beauty. I could even visualize how she sad there knitting, her head bowed and her long eyelashes blinking beautifully. That was a good catch for the man, a hardworking beautiful woman, and certainly it was a new beginning for the orphaned persona. Love traverses boundaries. Oh I love this story and would love to read it again, Nancy. Such a great hot out of the ballpark it is. 👏❤👏
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*sat
*hit
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Thank you, thank you! Sometimes it’s nice to see things through the eyes of a child. They often see what grown ups miss or are afraid to admit. This is a favorite of mine and I’m glad you liked it.
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Thanks ideally so true, Nancy. I’m glad we both like it. Your stories are really sweet to read. The moment i begin, I can’t stop till I finish. Keep up the good work. 👍
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I love the personal notes in this emotional story! The way it builds up a scene and immerses me in it has me doing a happy dance. ❤
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Thank you so much, Jaya. It was very special for me to view these events through the eyes of a child. We can learn much from them, especially the moments they see and we miss and how their little hearts dance! I appreciate your comments very much. ✌🏼 ❤️
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