smile

Starting the Day with a Smile

by: Alicia

Mike was an ordinary kid. He went around doing ordinary things. At school, he was a good student, not perfect, but he got good enough grades. He wasn't the most popular kid in school, but he got along with everyone. He had a group of very close friends at school, they hung out after class together.

Mike worked at the local drug store before and after school. He did it to earn some extra cash. One day, he was ringing up the total for a customer. Suddenly, a guy comes in holding a gun.

"Everyone drop down!" he says, "or I'm going to shoot!" all the shoppers dropped to the floor. The robber comes up to Mike. He holds out the gun. "Open the drawer." he orders.

"Easy does it." Mike said as he opened the drawer slowly.

"Put all the money in here." The robber said holding out a bag. Mike obeys. Then, he slowly hands the bag over to the robber.

The robber turns to see if any of the customers had gotten away. Mike calmly picks up the phone and dials 911. the robber turns back and sees Mike. In panic, he shoots him. For a moment, the robber is in shock. Then he runs out with the sack of money. Mike had been fatally wounded.

He died at the hospital. The next day, some of his closest friends and relatives came to his funeral. Some of his teachers were there too. It was raining hard. The school choir sang a song, and a priest was hired to lead the ceremonies. Mike's parents stood in the front row under an umbrella. After the ceremony was over, some of Mike's friends and talked with them. After the crowd had dispersed, only Mike's parents were left. They stood under the rain, saying good bye to their only son. A stranger came over to Mike's grave. He puts a bouquet of flowers on the headstone. Mike's mom walks up to the stranger.

"Did you know my son?" she asked.

The stranger nodded, "Yeah," he said, "I saw him everyday."

"Funny," she said, "I've never seen you."

The stranger turns and smiles, "You probably haven't." he says, "You see, I went to the drug store everyday in the morning to buy a cup of coffee, and everyday your son would be there. When I bought my coffee, he would always say, 'have a nice day mister' And he would smile at me. He was a nice kid. He was the only kid at that store who bothered to be polite. It's good to start off my day with a cup of coffee. But it was also good to start my day with a smile. I'll miss your son. He helped me get through my day. He probable didn't even know my name, and I don't know his. But, I'll never forget the kid down at the drug store who bothered to smile."