The Stranger Behind Me
written by: Phyllis Souza
Standing at the checkout stand, I was about to slide my credit card into the reader.
“What are you doing?” I said to the stranger behind me.
“I’m paying for your groceries,” he answered as he slid his card in first.
“No, please. What are you, independently wealthy or something? My bill is almost a hundred.”
“I’m a Vietnam Vet and wanted to give. You can do the same for someone else some time.”
“I will.”
Imagine, he wanted to give. Shouldn’t it have been the other way around? I’m deeply humbled.
Phyllis Souza lives in Northern California and is retired from a long real estate career. After taking several on-line writing classes, she started writing flash fiction and short stories. Her stories have been published in Café Lit, Spillwords, Scarlet Leaf, and Friday Flash Fiction.
Latest posts by Phyllis Souza (see all)
- An Invitation - March 17, 2025
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