The Latina mom moved along the tables picking out books for her three children, all under six years of age. Tonight her kids had stayed home, which allowed her to linger over the books, and savor the peace of being unencumbered, if only for a brief while. She held five books in one hand and an apple bigger than my fist in her other.
When she took a bite of the crispy apple, juice dribbled down her chin. “So good!” She smiled broadly.
“It does look delicious,” I said. “What kind is it?”
“Not sure.” She showed me the label on the fruit.
“Wow! A cosmic crisp. It’s a new variety. Supposed to be really tasty.”
“Oh, it is,” the mom added. “It is wonderful.”
I passed her a grocery bag for her books and then eased down the tables to the picture books where a young man, perhaps twenty years old, held up a Dr. Seuss book, staring intently at its cover. “Go, dog, go,” he muttered, “Go, dog, go.”
“It’s a fun book,” I pointed out.
“I like fun books.” He spoke each word carefully as if it were its own sentence. “I like this book.”
“Well, then, I think you might want to take it.” I offered him a bag.
The man slipped the book into the bag. As he walked away, he repeated quietly to himself, “I like fun books. I like this book.”
I felt someone tugging at my sleeve, dragging me out of my reverie. Something big and round was thrust into my hand. I glanced at the apple and then at the Latina woman, smiling impishly as if we were part of some grand conspiracy.
“It’s for you,” she whispered.
“Thanks.”
I took a big bite of the apple. It was good. Better than good. Better than any apple I had ever tasted. I would have fought Eve in the Garden of Eden to be the first to grab it.
Apple juice dribbled down my chin, and I launched into another greedy bite, savoring the fruit’s crispness and its rich, sweet, tangy flavor—the essence of autumn and golden leaves and ripe pumpkins and blue-sky days.
“I think you like it,” the woman offered.
“Just like you said.” I shake my head in disbelief. “It’s wonderful. Best apple I’ve ever had. Thank you so much.”
“And thank you.” She held up her bag of books like a prize, before turning and walking out into the cold rain.
Kids Need Books runs on donations and is part of the non-profit Interfaith Coalition. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation.
Wow. Sounds like wonderful work that you are doing. Win win!
I was there volunteering and watching this unfold. It was not unusual. Many such interactions have occurred. The smiling child who brought me a picture drawn with the colored pens she had received from KNB, the gifts of books to add to the inventory, warm hellos, and the lovely bouquets of daffodils the Latinx mother mentioned above brought each of the KNB volunteers. She finally had full time employment and had been given the bouquets which were extras by her employers She was so delighted to give them to us. We were equally delighted to receive them. Their cheerful yellow brightened my home just in time for St David’s Day a Welsh holiday my family celebrates. I am counting the days until we can all enjoy our Tuesday night comaraderie over books, the books that bring us all together.
Ro, you have been part of the heart and soul of KNB since the beginning. It’s going to be great to get things going once again.
Reading this description of the apple and book communication made my day a happy day, Joe. Who knew so much kindness and sharing would be the outcome of an apple and a book.
Thanks