The Story Teller

Cardo is a big man of about 6 feet. He is a farm worker. He is an honest man who earns his living by breaking his back under the scorching sun and unforgiving rain. He is liked by everybody in his small village.

One very hot summer day, Cardo went inside a small shop to buy some stuff. As he entered, he saw a poster that says ‘NO SHOES, NO BUY’ he stopped short and looked at his old holey sneakers. Well, it didn’t say the shoes have to be new, so he went on with his business and got what he came to the shop for. He went out afterwards, but since the pedicab he hired was not yet there, he sat in the bench beside the shop and waited.

As he was waiting, he saw a small barefooted girl entered the shop with a few coins in her tiny palm. He smiled at the little girl and the girl smiled back. After a minute, the door opened and out came the girl rubbing her eyes with the back of her palm. Cardo asked the girl why she was crying and the girl said that she was trying to buy a popsicle as it was a very hot day, but the lady didn’t accept her money and told her she wasn’t wearing any shoes.

Cardo nearly went back to the shop. But he changed his mind. Instead, he took off his shoes and told the little girl to put them on. The girl hesitated, but Cardo said she could get her popsicle if she wore them. So, she put them on and went back inside.

Cardo peeped through the open window of the shop to see what would happen. He saw how the irritated shop lady reminded the girl that the poster means she can’t buy anything if she’s not wearing any shoes. To this the little girl answered..

‘But lady, I am wearing shoes.’

Cardo smiled at the expression of disbelief in the shop lady’s face when she saw the little girl in an old  over-sized man’s working shoes. His smile got wider when he saw the girl coming out licking a popsicle almost dragging Cardo’s enormous shoes..

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