Grace

When faith goes too far

Grace had doubts.
About work, church, family... herself.
Grace hated feeling that way… usually.
If only…
“If only what?”
The question surprised her. Had she been thinking out loud?
An old woman across the aisle on the bus stared at her. She had a dented metal cart full of plastic bottles.
“Oh nothing.”
“Must be something. You seem so sad,” the woman said.
“Fine. If only I had… faith.”
The woman winked, then spit on the floor.
It was gross.
Grace’s stop was next. She couldn’t get off soon enough.
A man sat behind the driver. They were talking.
“I’m losing my mind, man,” he said.
Grace bent down and scanned the floor.
She didn’t see his mind anywhere.
“I hope you find it,” she told the man as she stepped outside.
The bus pulled away.

She passed a ragged man with a cardboard, hand-written “just hungry” sign.
Well of course he is.
“You poor thing. Let’s get you something to eat.”
“You’re too kind. Thank you.”
The girl at the sandwich shop counter tried to shoo the ragged man away, but Grace stopped her.
She ordered a sandwich for the man and a diet soda for herself.
“Fine. Go ahead. Throw your money away,” the girl said.
Grace pulled her wallet from her purse and dropped it into the waste bin.
The ragged man stepped forward and plucked it back out.
“I can hold that for you.”
It was in the trash. It must be garbage.
Grace nodded.
The girl behind the counter said Grace was crazy.
Grace believed her.
The solid floor felt suddenly uncertain.
She nearly fell but the ragged man caught her.
“I gotcha. You can trust me.”
She nodded.
“We’ll have such fun,” he cooed.
“I have faith in you,” Grace smiled.
“That’s my good girl.”