Mitch parked his scooter and ran into the corner grocery store.
He meant to buy a candy bar and a soda.
In his haste, he collided with a man on his way out of the store.
The impact knocked some of the items from the man’s hands,
including a carton of eggs. Several eggs spilled out on the hard
floor and broke.
“Stupid kid! Look where you’re going!” The man said in anger.
Sean looked up and recognized Mitch, his next-door-neighbor.
“I’m sorry,” Sean offered.
Mitch, too, recognized the scrawny kid from next door. “Look at
this mess!”
“I am sorry,” Sean repeated, a little intimidated by the big man.
“Forget it,” Mitch said in haste.
“I could help you clean it up,” Sean said.
“Never mind. I don’t need a little kid getting in the way. You’ve
already done that quite well.”
Sean flushed at the rebuke. He hated being reminded about his
small size. Although 13, he stood only about 4’ 9” tall and
weighed about 100 pounds.
Mitch scooped up the spilled groceries, leaving the smashed
eggs for others to clean up.
Sean, still upset by the crack about his size, felt his new amulet
glowing warmly against his chest.
“I wish Mitch could know what it is like to be small like me,” Sean
whispered as he watched the tall man leave the store.
At the same time as he voiced the wish, Sean wondered what it
must be like to be tall and strong like Mitch.