The way the old woman stared at him, it was as if she was looking right through him. Like she couldn’t even see him. And she couldn’t.
Even though her eyes were wide open. A kind of very surprised expression. And she had been.
Samuel was tempted for a moment to reach out and touch Mrs. Tong. Just to be sure. The longer someone studies you, the better a witness, he thought. But, nah, he could tell, she wouldn’t be. She could stare at him like this all day long, and she wouldn’t be able to say a single thing about him. Not one word to identify him.
Some people, well, it’s good to be forgotten sometimes. In his case, unfortunately, there were many, many people he wished he could forget but couldn’t. They’d all made impressions too deep to cut out of his brain. They were the ones who bullied and beat him up. The ones who made him feel like he didn’t fit in.
He could always see their faces as if they were all standing always right in front of him. A line of punks, laughing at him. One day, maybe they’d all be sorry.
Nope, old Mrs. Tang would never remember him. That time in her life had passed.
He contemplated her eyes again. They were glassy. Unblinking. Again he was tempted to reach out and touch her. He didn’t.
Samuel looked down at the growing puddle. Extending his forefinger, he touched it, ever so lightly. The moment he did it, he regretted it. He wiped his finger back and forth on the floor to clean it.
Very carefully, he reached over the puddle, making very sure not to step in it. It took bending as far as he could to reach the handle of Mrs. Tong’s handbag. But he managed to snag it without toppling on her.
Rummaging through it quickly, he grabbed wallet. Several large bills were sticking out of the top. Jamming it in his jeans pocket without counting the money, he tossed the bag on the floor.
This ruse of selling Zippy’s fundraiser tickets was paying off well today. It had allowed Samuel to get inside many homes. Like this one. A twinge of guilt passed through him. Mrs. Tong had always been pretty nice. Calling out Hello to him and waving, even though she never seemed to remember his name.
For the last time, Samuel looked at Mrs. Tong looking way past him. Way out there somewhere she was going. Or more like had already gone. Shaking his head, he turned and headed for the front door.
Easy money, he thought. And hey, the old lady had lived a nice long life. His was just beginning.
Smiling at his growing good fortune, and slapping the packet of fundraiser tickets against his palm, Samuel then closed the front door behind him and walked away whistling.
Lanning Lee 