Man at the Giant Store : Nuzhat Shahzadi

Editor's Note:  Like many of us, Nuzhat has been looking for ways by which more members might contribute to the XUNICEF Blog.  One of Nuzhat's suggestions is that we encourage members to send in very short pieces about daily life. "What did I see today?" "Who did I meet?" 

The first of these 'shorts' appears below.  

How about sending us your own 'shorts'?  What made today a little 'special'? 

Man at the Giant Store 

Nuzhat Shahzadi

I spotted him across the road––slow, labored steps, eyes carefully scoping the cobbled sidewalk. Instantly, I remembered the face––I had seen him at the Giant store. I sometimes go there for my groceries. 

He is a staff at the store, always wears a hat––in his 70s?. He hovers around a table-counter that holds a large plastic bucket to collect donations for cancer. I donate a dollar or two in the bucket, often. He smiles at me. 

“Your hat is beautiful,” he compliments, regularly, with the same smile, same words. In summer I always wear a hat when outside. Giant falls within my walking range.

 

“Yours, too,” I respond on some occasions or “Thank you! I bought this from Hawaii.” 

He doesn’t remember my face. I don’t think he recalls our exchanges.

One time as he removed his hat, I saw his totally hairless-head. 

His deep paleness is noticeable. I have a feeling he has/had a brush with cancer. Every time I am at the Giant, I look around for him. I feel good when I see his pale-pleasant presence. 

I don’t know his name, though.