A Little Goes A Long Way

We land in the San Francisco airport around eleven pm, two in the morning where I'm from. My Aunt was finally getting married! Her soon-to-be husband, Johnny, was a great guy and we were all so happy for her. My petite Aunt is waiting for us outside, a big smile on her face. We all exchange boisterous greetings after not seeing each other for so long, before my mother, step-father, sister, and I all pile into her car. Even though we were tired we were also hungry, airline food isn't that great and is a little expensive to try to feed a whole family. My Aunt says she knows this great Mexican restaurant we could eat at and we all agree to go there. The food is amazing and it was great to catch up with my Aunt and be asked about my sophomore year of high school.

Our bellies and hearts full we fold ourselves into the car and head to the place we'll be staying. I can't help but to admire all the lights and the cool color coding on the curbs of this city's road, it was all so much bigger than where I come from. Slowing down we stop at a red light under a bridge. I glance out of the window and see an older man, maybe mid forty's , sitting against one of the concrete pillars, what looks to be his belongings surrounding him. He was minding his own business, not holding a cardboard sign or asking for money like the homeless people in my small city. I realized he was genuinely without a place to live and just trying to make his way through life as is, my heart begins to ache that in such a big and economically booming city, many people still suffer.

My Aunt also notices the man and turns to look at me,

"Pass me my leftovers please," and she smiles sweetly. I pick up the Styrofoam box full of a very large burrito my small Aunt couldn't eat and hand it to her. She immediately turns around and rolls down her window.

"Would you like some food?" Smiling she reaches out, offering the box. The man lifts his face, startled, before smiling so wide I thought his face might crack.

"Thank you ma'am!" He reaches out his hands and gently takes the box as if it's a precious gift. And I realize that it is. His eyes light up as he opens the box and he laughs exuberantly.

"It's still warm, too! Thank you so much!" His grateful warm brown eyes and my Aunts easy 'your welcome, have a nice night' signal the end of this small wondrous moment as the light turns green and we ride away. I think of the man's happy and thankful face and know that he will be the most beautiful thing I'll see in this city.