It was a gloomy and cold morning. After driving my child to school, I dropped by at a fast food restaurant. I took a newspaper and sat down by a corner to have my breakfast. There was no one else in the restaurant. On a few tables were paper cups, paper dishes and French fries which had yet to be cleared away.
A young woman came in with a 6-year-old boy. After placing their order, they sat down to wait. Then the auto door in the far corner opened and a gaunt-looking vagrant in a shabby coat stepped in. With his head hanging, he walked slowly to a table littered with paper dishes. He searched the litter for leftovers, picked up a cold chip and put it in his mouth.
The little boy whispered to his mother, "Mummy, he's eating leftovers!"
His mother whispered back. "He's hungry, but he has no money, that's why."
The little boy spoke in an even softer voice. "Can we buy him a burger?"
"I think he'd only eat leftovers," said his mother.
The vagrant noticed he was being watched and looked up. As he looked at the boy in the eye, he felt embarrassed. He quickly put down the chips and smiled. All of a sudden, he looked amiable. It was as if he were a changed person.
The waitress came over and handed a big paper bag to the mother, and a small paper bag to the boy.
As they walked to the door, the little boy suddenly took out the steaming hot burger from the bag and had a bite. He swung round and put it on the table where he had sat. Then he ran out of the door in a swift.
The vagrant was astonished. He looked at the boy as he ran towards his mother.
I thought it was time for me to leave too. I put back the newspaper and walked out. As I looked up at the sky, I could see the blue sky beyond the dark clouds.
Feeds