If you missed Westside Story – 8 Themes Part I, please click my LINK and you will be taken back in time.
THEME #5 – BLACK GENEROSITY IN THE MILD FORM
While downloading my last WinCo Foods shopping cart into the back of the Nourish Pierce County Food Bank truck, a Black male approached and asked, “Do you need any help?” Misunderstanding what he was asking, I thanked him and told him I was working my last grocery cart and would be finished soon.
He said, “No, no,” as he waved his hand towards the Food Bank signage on the side of the truck, “I mean, does the Food Bank need money?” I said, “Oh, yes, the Food Bank can certainly use more money.” He said, “Wait here. I will be back.”
When the man returned, he handed me a wad of bills withdrawn from the cash machine. He said, “Here is $200 for the Food Bank.” I thanked him and asked for his name and address so Nourish Pierce County could send him a thank-you receipt.
He turned down my offer of a receipt. He wanted to remain anonymous. He exclaimed he was a veteran. He had won a baseball scholarship for college when he was young, but those were his drinking and getting high days, so he blew his chance for a college education.
His two older brothers, who were squared away and in the military, kicked him in his derrière and told him to make something of himself. He ended up completing a full career and retired from the army.
With my cop background, I was able to uncover his first and last name, but I must honor his request for anonymity. That is why I am not including his name in this article.
What a giant gesture Ralph, oops, made giving $200 cash to the Food Bank. Imagine, a Black man giving $200 cash to a White man he did not know. That is an act of a positive, trusting relationship. Black and White connected by a chance meeting to feed the hungry. Thanks, Ralph, oops there I go again! I promised to not mention his name.
THEME #6 BLACK GENEROSITY IN THE WILD FORM
I think the man’s true story chronicled in Theme #5 above, is fantastic. For those who found my narrative bland and boring, I am going to repeat some of the same story a second time. I will spice it up with some fiction to make it interesting for those who seek more excitement in these Covid – 19 stay at home days.
A repeat of previous THEME #5: While downloading my last grocery cart into the back of the Food Truck, a Black male approached and asked, “Do you need help?” Misunderstanding what he was asking, I thanked him and told him I was working my last grocery cart and would be finished soon.
He said, “No, no,” as he waved his hand towards the Food Bank signage on the side of the truck, “I mean, does the food bank need money?” I said, “Oh, yes, the Food Bank can certainly use more money.” He said, “Wait here then. I will be back.”
The man went inside and, with his 45 semi-auto pearl-handled handgun committed an armed robbery at check stand #14.
When the man breathlessly exited the store, he handed me a wad of bills and said, “Here is $200 for the Food Bank.” He then sprinted off before I could properly thank him.
I yelled after him, “Can I have your name and address so Nourish Pierce County can send you a thank you receipt? As he jumped into a getaway car, he yelled back, “I do not need a receipt. I wish to remain anonymous.”
All I saw and heard next was the squealing tires creating billows of smoke and the rag covering his back license plate flapping in the wind. He was gone in a flash, disappearing into a crowd of people braving Covid -19 public space. He demonstrated a determined intent to comply with Social Distancing rules, especially when it comes to cops.
Coming up next is Themes #7 and #8.
I wish my language arts were perfect, but that possibility seems to evade me. An error, which I repeat in both Part I and Part II, jumped out at me this morning when reviewing my published work.
I now see instead of having the last sentence read,
Coming up next is Themes #7 and #8.
It would have been better had it read,
Coming up next is Theme #7 and theme #8.
or
Coming up next are Themes #7 and #8.
Oh well. You get the idea even if my first language is broken English.
Joseph Boyle
How could I not have caught that? You beat me to it, Joe! You’re into DIY editing now? I’m looking forward to your updates to Themes #7 and #8.
Mary,
The reason you did not catch me is that I now get up at 2:30a on publishing day to take one last look in my effort to discover any Mary Hammond language arts tips prior to Mary Hammond giving me the tips.
No worries. There will be plenty of other points related to language arts to ponder and learn from in the future. In fact, take a close look at this paragraph and you might find a gold mine.
My faux pas in Part I and Part II actually hurts my ears to read them. Ouch!
Joseph Boyle
I’m surprised that there is a guilt trip in your mind. Which acknowledges you to get up at 0230 and re-edit your publications for all your readers.
I would have assumed your Editor, Mr Ben Sclair or associate Stephen Neufeld has the last look and approach to edit your story lines before publication.
But than you have your reader fans and associate Susanne Bacon to do your editing too. Before you feel the last sentence of your story line is finished. I’ve been a printer/pressman for 23 years of my 33 years of retirement from the State of Washington. My expertise is editing documents of many pages with spelling or typo-errors in line of a story or letter before print. I have noticed many books published with typo per spelling errors still after many eyes have had their re-edits for a book. Many publishers have transcripts sent out to readers,but still miss a word or two in a sentence before print. Which it’s to late after publishing over 1000’s of books.
It’s a Black and White thing!
Nice to know you have a nature about you to be cautious in your line of writing and grammar. Bless your heart!!!
James III