Barefoot and dirty, the
girl
just sat in the park and watched the people go by.
She
never tried to speak; she never said a word. Many
people
passed, but never did one person stop. The next day,
a
woman who had noticed her decided to go back to the
park, curious about whether the little girl would be
there
again.
Right in the very spot as yesterday, she sat
perched, with the saddest look in her eyes. Today
the
woman decided to make the move and walked over to
the
little girl, thinking as she went how a park full of
strange people
is not a place for young children to play
alone.
As the woman began walking toward her,
she could see the
back of the little girl's dress indicated a
deformity. She
figured that was the reason the people just passed by
and
made no effort to help. As she got closer, the
little girl
slightly lowered her eyes to avoid an intent stare.
The
woman could see the shape of the girl's back more
clearly.
It was shaped with a definite hump. The lady smiled
kindly
to let her know it was okay, she was there to help,
to
talk.
She sat down beside the youngster and opened with a
simple
"Hello."
They talked
until
it was
almost dark and the park was completely empty. They
were
all alone. The woman asked the girl why she was so
sad.
The little one looked at her, and with a sad face
said,
"Because I'm different."
The woman
immediately
said,
"That
you are!" with a smile.
The little girl
looked even
sadder and said, "I know."
"My little
friend,"
the
woman said, "I mean that as a loving compliment. You
remind me of an angel, sweet and innocent."
The young girl looked at the woman, smiled and slowly
stood
on her feet and said, "Really?"
"Yes, ma'am, you're like a little guardian angel sent
to
watch over all the people walking by."
The girl nodded her head, "Yes," and smiled; and
with that
she
spread her wings and said, "I am. I'm your guardian
angel,"
with a twinkle in her eye.
The woman was astounded and couldn't say a word.
The little one said, "For once you thought of someone
other
than yourself. I have waited a long time to see you
do
that."
The woman quickly stood on her feet and said, "Wait,
tell
me, why did no one else stop to help an
angel?"
The angel looked at her and smiled. "You are the
only one
who saw me."