The Guy with the Guitar (a short, short-story)

Strumming one last chord on his guitar, the old man on the street tossed the hole-adorned instrument over his shoulder and lethargically began to walk toward the train station. He had not yet noticed the shivering, young shadow behind him. He stumbled to one side, avoiding a collision between his knee and the young man's chin. He felt sorry for the kid, bound to a wheelchair and obviously freezing, but what could he do? Life on the street was hard, and the thinning down jacket he had been wearing for the last three winters was not enough to keep even himself from shivering most nights. This man, young as he was, had to understand; he could not part with his jacket. The old man mumbled a careless apology and trudged on, ignoring whatever it was that the young man was saying. The old man walked almost two blocks before realizing that he had left his favorite harmonica on the window sill where he performed that day. He turned and began to briskly walk back. He was annoyed when two women walked up to him and began to talk to him. He told them he did not have time and began to walk faster. They followed. When they arrived at the window sill, the harmonica was gone. The old man almost put his fist through the window. The older woman, continuing in her kind, soft voice, offered the old man the jacket she was holding. It was a brand new, thick, wool overcoat. He wondered why she had not given it to the young man who had been sitting there, cold, without a coat. She responded that the man, after trying on the coat, declined their gift and pointed them down the road to an older gentleman who seemed to be very cold. The old man complained and called it a trick. He began to rage about the young man who had obviously stolen his precious harmonica. When he asked the woman why she was giving away jackets, she responded by pointing to the church on the corner. He knew what was coming next, but he let her finish her pitch. Later that night the man rolled over and felt something stick him in the side. He reached into his new coat pocket and pulled out a small Bible. He assumed one of the women placed it there. Then, inside the Bible he found a short note. It read:

Dear Sir, 

I have been listening to you play guitar and sing for weeks now.

Most days I have to be at work before you are finished. I really 

enjoy your music. I want you to have this Bible. I have learned 

so much from reading it. I hope you will too. I hope to talk to 

you more about it soon. You may have heard about Jesus, but 

you have not yet heard what he has done in my life. Looking 

forward to hearing you play again soon.

Sincerely,

Caleb (a.k.a. "the guy in the wheelchair") 

P.S. - I put your harmonica in the inside pocket. 

I made sure the ladies knew to give this jacket 

to the guy with the guitar.