The Greatest Gift Read Free Page A

canned things, but we don’t get a lot of fresh meats and vegetables.” She nodded toward some of the elderly people working their way through small bowls of cereal. “Protein, that’s what they need. That’s what the children need, too.” Her smile was weary. “We’re the richest country in the world, aren’t we?” she added, her glance toward the occupants of the shelter eloquent in its irony.
    Mary agreed quietly, asking for only a cup of coffee. Theyoung mother, Meg, sat down beside her with her baby asleep in her arms.
    “Hi,” Mary said.
    The young woman managed a smile. “Hi. You got lots of kids.”
    Mary smiled. “I’m blessed with three.”
    “I just got this one,” Meg said, sighing. “My people are all in Atlanta. I came out here with Bill, and they warned me he was no good. I wouldn’t listen. Now here I am, just me and the tidbit here. Bev says she thinks she knows where I can get a job. I’m going later to look.”
    “Good luck,” Mary said.
    “Thanks. You got work?”
    Mary nodded. “I’m a housekeeper. I work for several families, all nice ones.”
    “You’re lucky.”
    Mary thought about it. “Yes,” she agreed. “I think I am.”
    The elderly man, Mr. Harlowe, joined them at the table with his cup of coffee, held in unsteady old hands. “Ladies.” He greeted in a friendly tone. “I guess poverty’s no respecter of mothers, is it?”
    “You got that right,” Meg said with a faint smile.
    “At least we’re in good company,” Mary added, glancing around. “The people here are nice.”
    “Noticed that myself.” He sipped his coffee. “I retired two years ago and had all my money in a corporation money market fund. Last year, the corporation went belly-up and it came out that we’d all lost every penny we had in our retirement accounts.” He shrugged. “At least the top scalawags seem headed to prison. But it turned out that I was related to one. My nephew talked me into giving him power of attorney and he took it all. I lost my house, my car, everything I had,except a little check I get from the veterans’ service. That isn’t enough to buy me a week’s groceries in today’s market. I was going to prosecute him, but he went overseas with his ill-got gains. No money left to use to pursue him now.”
    “Gee, that’s tough,” Meg said quietly.
    The elderly man glanced at her, noting the cuts on her face and arms. He grimaced. “Looks like you’ve had a tough time of your own.”
    “My man got drunk and I made him mad by being jealous of his other girlfriend. He said he’d do what he pleased and I could get out. I argued and he came at me with a knife,” Meg said simply. “I ran away with the baby.” She looked away. “It wasn’t the first time it happened. But it will be the last.”
    “Good for you, young lady,” he said gently. “You’ll be okay.”
    She smiled shyly.
    “What about you?” the old man asked Mary. “Those kids yours?” he added, indicating her small brood.
    “Yes, they are. We lost our house and our car when my divorce became final.” She gave Meg a quick glance. “I know about men who drink, too,” she said.
    Meg smiled at her. “We’ll all be all right, I expect.”
    “You bet we will,” Mary replied.
    The old man chuckled. “That’s the spirit. You got a place to go after here?”
    “Not just yet,” Mary said. “But I will soon,” she said with new confidence. “I hope both of you do well.”
    They thanked her and drifted off into their own problems. Mary finished her coffee and got up with new resolve.
    It was Monday, and she had to get the kids to school. She used the shelter’s pay phone and called one of her friends, Tammy, who had been a neighbor.
    “I hate to ask,” she said, “but the kids have to go to school and Jack took the car. I don’t have a way to go.”
    There was an indrawn breath. “I’ll be right over,” she began.
    “Tammy, I’m at the homeless shelter.” It bruised her pride to