Peanut Butter Thoughts

Peanut Butter Thoughts

Standing in front of the frozen food section, trying to decide what I would eat this week, when a tap came from my side. Thinking someone ran their cart too close, I turned to find nobody, until I looked down.

There was a small boy standing there. “Hello?” I asked, assuming he needed help reaching something a parent sent him for.

“Hello,” he said, smiling! But then he just looked at me.

“Can I help you?” I asked, “Is your mother nearby?” I added, realizing that he was quite young, four or five at the most.

“She’s over there,” he pointed to the produce section. A woman was collecting a bag of green beans, one at a time. I remembered my husband doing that, I would grab handfuls, but then I don’t cook, and you aren’t supposed to eat peanut butter sandwiched for every meal. Hence, for me now, frozen dinners.

Still nothing from the child, so I figured I’d get the conversation going. “Do you know who I am?” I asked.

“Are you Mrs. Santa Claus?” he asked, quite seriously.

Suddenly my white hair, my wrinkled face and my favorite, I might add, red coat, came to mind. I guess I could look like Mrs. Claus to a child.

I looked down at the boy, I could see he was serious. I felt I had an obligation. “You can’t tell anyone!” I said quietly. “I left my summer coat at my friend’s house, I had to wear this one.”

The smile on his face made my day, “Are you just visiting here?”

“Just checking up on the boys and girls for you know who...” I said.

“I won’t tell! I promise! I’m being good!” off he ran.

Suddenly, I decided on a peanut butter sandwich for supper! Chunky too!