Maggie could not wait for the class the end. For the first time in a long time that morning, her Mom had made breakfast. Maggie had eggs and bacon. Her Mom seemed happy. Maggie too, was happy. Last night, she did not mind the cold hard floor that was her bed. She had slept well with sweet dreams about her Guardian Angel. She had not say anything to her friends in school afraid that by saying it out loud she would bring a curse to her happiness. Although Clark had promised to come take her that afternoon, she wasn’t still sure that he would really come. Surely, guardian angels have a lot of work to do.
She had stayed up late last night while her Mom was sleeping to wash her only dress. Her only regret was that she did not have shoes to go out with Amina and Clark.
When the class was dismissed, Maggie grabbed the grocery store plastic bag that held her notebook and pencil and ran wildly through the back streets to the camp praying with all her heart that Clark would be there waiting for her.
Maggie stopped at the gate of Sophia Park and looked around, her heart beating. She chose the best place to wait for him, right by the entrance so no matter from what side he was coming, he would clearly see her. Maggie sat on a discarded car tire while taking all the precautions not to dirty her only dress and waited. She waited. Every time an adult would walk by, she would ask them for the time then sit back and stare at the deserted road.
A farm truck approached slowly Sophia Park’s entrance and honked twice. Maggie looked up and almost cried of joy. Amina was waving at her from the wheels with Clark on the passenger side. Maggie rushed to meet the truck. Amina jumped out from the truck and scooped Maggie in her arms.
– “Maggie, I’m sorry, it’s my fault if we’re late. Have you been waiting long?”
Maggie did not say a word. She was holding Amina. They were there for her and that was all that counted.
– “Clark!” she squeeled and dropped Amina to rush into his arms.
She was still holding on to Clark with all her might when she heard Amina say, “Okay, Miss Maggie. Let’s go, we have a surprise for you.”
– “A surprise?” Maggie asked while looking at Clark.
– “Don’t look at me Maggie. I don’t know anything about it. I thought we were gonna have a nice meal, that’s all.”
Maggie was looking with wonderment at all the elegant stores lining both sides of the street. Everything around them was so clean. Beautiful women in gorgeous dresses were everywhere, some holding their pets, coming out from the stores or going in the glittering shops and restaurants, followed by black maids in well-pressed black-and-white uniforms carrying large bags and boxes attached with bright ribbons of all colors. She had never known that such a place existed so close to her camp.
She was sitting in the front between Amina and Clark shifting and squirming of pleasure.
Amina parked the truck and got out with Maggie, while Clark stayed in the truck.
– “Don’t go anywhere, we’ll be right back.” Amina said to Clark.
Amina took Maggie’s hands, “Let’s do some shopping.”
Maggie could not believe her ears. Shopping? She would be allowed to go inside the beautiful stores and look at the beautiful clothes and maybe touched them? She would be allowed to look at all the pretty women inside trying on beautiful dresses?
Amina started walking when she felt Maggie tugged at her purse. She turned around.
– “What honey?”
Maggie looked at her with her big round eyes. “Will they let me in and watch without shoes?”
Amina grabbed Maggie’s hand. “Just come with me, sweetie.”
They went inside a large store full of flagrance with so many beautiful clothes and pretty women trying on hats, dresses and shoes that Maggie did not know what or where to look at.
A tall, beautiful woman in a splendid uniform approached them, her eyes on Maggie.
– “I am so sorry but children with no shoes are not allowed inside the store.”
Maggie hid herself instinctively behind Amina.
– “I understand, we’re here to buy her a pair of shoes.”
The saleswoman hesitated. “I am pretty sure we don’t carry anything her size but there’s a department store right before the exit of—”
– “Listen lady, we’re here to buy some shoes and I would suggest that you do your job and—”
Maggie was tugging at Amina’s hand. Although she did not understand English, she had sensed that she was the problem. “Amina, I can watch from outside the store.”
Amina turned to the saleswoman, a furious look in her eyes.
– “Ma’am, I’m afraid I’m gonna have to ask you to leave.” said the saleswoman. By now all the matrons and other saleswomen had their eyes on Amina and Maggie.
A bald man in an impeccable tailored suit approached.
– “Hi, My name’s Harold, store manager. Is there some kind of problem?”
Amina pointed at the saleswoman. “Yes, there’s some kind of problem. We’re here to buy a pair of shoes and your salesperson here is giving us attitude.”
Harold rolled his eyes. “Ma’am, there’s no need to raise your voice.” He turned to his saleswoman, “Kathryn?”
– “I’ve suggested them to go to the department store at—”
– “Aaah, excellent choice Kathryn.” then back at Amina, “Ma’am, I would have suggested exactly the same thing.”
– “Are you telling me you refuse to sell us a pair of children’s shoes?”
Harold did not flinched, his face wearing the same smile.
– “I see you understand the situation. Now, if you don’t mind, Kathryn has to go back and help real customers.”
– “Come on Maggie. Let’s go somewhere where we’re welcome.” Amina stormed out of the store with Maggie who ran back to the truck.
She jumped in Clark’s arms, burrying her face in his neck, crying and sobbing. She did not want this to happen. She didn’t need the shoes. She wanted everything to be perfect and now, she had spoiled their afternoon.
After Amina had explained to Clark what happened, he held Maggie up and stroke her hair.
Maggie was still crying when she looked at Amina and Clark. “Are you mad at me? Please, don’t be mad at me.”
Amina took her from Clark. “Don’t be silly, sweetie. Why would we be mad at you?”
For the first time since she’d met him, Amina saw Clark’s impassible expression changed, not for long, but enough to show a tiny crack in the fortress.
– “Amina, why don’t you wait here with Maggie. I’m not gonna be long.”
She watched him go inside the store and come back out after not even five minutes. Clark was motioning to them to join him inside the store.
Maggie felt like a little princess in a fairy tale. She did not know what was happening but she knew her Guardian Angel had made this possible. He had again made everything right for her. Harold himself had carried her and put her in a plush sofa surrounded by saleswomen running back and forth showing her so many magnificent clothes that she did not know what to do. She watched the saleswomen pick out for her the dresses, the shoes, the jeans, the T-shirts and from time to time, Harold would ask her if she liked them. Maggie would nod and smiled timidly while she watched other people from the store carefully wrapped her clothes and put them inside beautiful bags.
Everybody was nice to her, smiling and attending to her every wishes. The security guard ran out and came back with her favorite hamburger, french fries and coke, something she had been dreaming about almost every day. If she only turned her head to look at a dress, a saleswoman would be on her feet to bring that dress to her right away. Kathryn herself was helping her dress and undress whenever they wanted her to try something on. Even the elegant matrons were arguing with Harold and his staff about what best would suit her.
Amina was standing beside Clark watching and encouraging Maggie to pick out clothes. “Clark, what did you do to them? How is this even possible?”
– “Amina, why break the spell? Look at Maggie. I don’t think she has ever been so happy in her life. Why don’t we just enjoy the moment?”
– “You know. I wouldn’t mind being treated like that. Do you think you can have a few words with Harold for me?”
Clark turned to her. “Amina, I like the way you dress, the way you are.”
It was all what she needed to hear marred only by one thought that kept coming back at her. Was the winning scratch-off ticket really a coincidence? But then, her suspicions melted right away when she saw Maggie’s happiness.
