One Smile at a Time

         The heat was unbearable.  Thank God for air conditioning, I thought, opening the door to get the mail.  Looking down, I saw a small worm writhing on the hot surface of the driveway.

         “Poor little guy,” I said softly, carefully plucking the creature from his doom and depositing him in the cool, moist shade of my recently watered flower bed.  I watched as he wiggled away until my eye was caught by the brightness of the zinnias.

         Those weren’t bloomed a moment ago, I pondered.  It was as if saving the worm’s life had made the garden smile.

         Who else do I know that could use a smile today? I thought.  I forgot about the mail and went for a pot and shovel.  I dug up a small blooming plant, placed it in the pretty pot, and walked next door.

         “Who is it?” a voice called when I knocked.

         “Mrs. Mazachek?  It’s me, Kerri.”

         I heard the older lady moving around inside.  Her limited mobility kept her indoors unless her daughter was taking her for a doctor’s appointment.

         She peeked through the door and smiled a toothless grin, happy for company.  “Is there something I can get you, dear?” she asked hospitably.

         I held out the potted flower.  “I thought you’d like a little touch of summer to liven up the indoors,” I said with a smile. 

         “Oh, you are a doll,” she replied with a quaver in her voice.  “Did I ever tell you about my gardens?  I used to keep beautiful gardens but now I can barely water the fern in my kitchen.”

         Mrs. Mazachek showed me albums full of old photos she and her husband had taken of their gardens.  “Come back any time, dear, and thank you so much for the flower.  It is a treasure.”

         As I left, she tucked a few dollars into my hand like a doting grandmother does with a beloved grandchild.  Her eyes sparkled as she said, “Get yourself an ice cream.  You deserve it.”

         I thanked her and nodded.  I knew better than to try and return the gift.  It would hurt her feelings.

         I had planned to go right home, but as I reached the front walk I spotted little Persephone Brown watching sadly as all her playmates bought snow cones from the street vendor. 

         “Would you like one?” I asked with a wink.  She nodded and put her tiny hand in mine.  “What flavor do you like?”

         “I don’t know,” came her shy reply.  “I’ve never had one.”

         “Then let’s get the special one,” I suggested, ordering a large rainbow cone.  The vendor smiled as I offered him the money Mrs. Mazachek had given me.

         “Oh, I can’t accept that.  Look at that little girl’s smile,” he said, nodding toward Persephone.  “That makes my whole day worthwhile.”  He wiped a tear from his eye with the back of his hand and waved goodbye.

         As I turned to go home I could just make out Mr. Hendricks watching me from the shaded corner of his porch across the street. 

         “How are you, Mr. Hendricks?” I called out loudly.  The poor old gentleman had been a farmer all his life and his hearing had suffered from his close proximity to the noisy tractors and farm machinery of earlier days.  Now he lived here in the city; his little brick house held in the summer heat like an oven.   

         “It’s a hot one today,” he said, mopping his brow with a trembling hand.

         “So why are you out here instead of inside in the air conditioning?” I asked, concerned.

         “Machine went kaput at the beginning of the summer and I can barely keep the rent and prescriptions paid for,” he sighed.

         “I was about to go home and have a cold glass of lemonade.  I’d love for you to join me.”

         “Me?” he asked with pleased surprise.  “It would be a joy.”

         I smiled, thinking how refreshed he would feel sitting in the cool air for a few hours sipping a cold beverage.  I helped him down the porch steps, slipping the money from Mrs. Mazachek into the pocket of his loose-fitting overalls. It’s not much, but every little bit helps.

         “You sit right here and I’ll get the lemonade.”  Mr. Hendricks and I spent the afternoon chatting about the weather, sipping lemonade, and working on the crossword puzzle in the newspaper he’d brought along.

         The elderly gentleman reluctantly agreed to stay for dinner, insisting he’d only be in the way.  As I began dinner preparations the phone rang.

         “Great news!” I chirped as my husband entered the back door that evening.  “The city commissioner’s office called.  They approved my application to organize a work day to clean up that vacant lot behind Mrs. Mazachek’s.  We can use it as a park and community garden.  They’ll even provide some labor and materials if the neighbors are willing to take care of the upkeep from year to year.”

         “Oh, that is wonderful news, Kerri!”  Mike hugged me hard, lifting me off my feet and swinging me around. 

         I smiled up at my handsome husband.  “I can’t wait to tell Mrs. Mazachek the news.  They even approved a ramp so she can get to the garden from her backdoor!”  Tears filled my eyes as I pictured her enjoying the neighborhood garden.

         “I knew you could do it,” Mike praised. 

         “Oh, one more thing, love.”

         “You name it.”

         “That window unit you fixed, the one that’s in the shed?”

         “I was going to install that in our bedroom tonight.  It’ll be nice and cool up there now.”

         “I know, and that would be wonderful, but could you install it in Mr. Hendricks’ house instead?  We have the central unit and he has nothing at all.”

         “Of course.  That’s my Kerri:  changing the world, one smile at a time!  How many people have you made happy today?”

         I blushed and replied, “I don’t keep track.  One smile at a time, that’s all that matters.” 

1000 words.

Writer's Cramp entry for the prompt:  I'm trying to cheer myself up, since I don't feel well. Sooooo, write a short story or poem about changing the world, one smile at a time.