“I’m sorry,” said the clerk looking down on me with a sympathetic look on her face, “but we’re all out of Joy. Could I interest you in a box of Cheerfulness?”
I looked at the shelf and saw the gaping hole where Joy should have been.
“No thank you, I can fake cheerfulness. What I need right now is Joy.”
“We’re getting a shipment tomorrow. Why don’t you come back then. I’ll save a box for you,” said the clerk.
“Thank you, I’ll do that,” I said despondently as I turned for the door and walked out of the store.
I stood there thinking, now what do I do? There’s an empty spot in my soul that needs to be filled… and soon! Left unguarded, an unkind word or an angry look from a disgruntled passer-by might fill it. I can’t have that.
Watching from the sidewalk, I saw two women standing by a wooden bench in the park just across the street from the shop. They were gathering their packages, giving each other a hug, and making ready to leave. They had been laughing… a sound almost like music. I could see the happiness on their faces, and I could see the notes dancing in the air. Dodging the traffic, I quickly made my way across the street to the place where they had been in the hopes that some of the notes from their laughter lingered after their departure.
Ah, good! Their notes had floated over to the rose bushes and had settled in amongst the branches as if they were roses, too. I leaned into the bushes, picked out as many of the notes I could gather, and gently put them in the hole in my soul.
I know Happiness lasts for just a short time, but with luck, these notes will fill my empty space until Joy arrives tomorrow.
Debbie Sschroff lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Has been retired for 10 years and is trying her hand at writing; something she never had time for when working.
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