Man in the Shadows

Lydie walked down the sidewalk, enjoying the lazy snowfall. She felt as if she were in a snow globe. How pretty it was with Christmas lights up around the city. Her boots clacked on the sidewalk as she made her way home. It had been a rough day trying to get everything in under the deadline. She wondered why her coworkers panicked when they knew this day would come. But, as usual, they got the newspaper finished under the wire.

She thought about having a celebratory meal and a good glass of Cabernet. Perhaps she should stop at Angelo’s to pick up her spirits. That is what she decided to do.

She crossed the street, stopping short when a man with his hand out asked, “Can you spare some change?” She was startled, for she didn’t see him at first. 

“Sorry, I’m fresh out.” She couldn’t help but notice his cracked, dried hands in the cold. 

“Have a good day.” He turned from her and hobbled back to the park bench. 

She felt instant shame. How could she turn him away? Then she felt anger. How dare he ruin her evening? She went to work every day trying to make a living, and she paid her rent and taxes, when this man sat on his duff all day long, begging for money. How hard was that?

But it wasn’t an easy job, was it? He was cold and hungry. She entered Angelo’s. 

“Good evening, Miss Lydie, your table is free. May I take your coat?”

“Thank you.” She was escorted to the small corner table, where she ordered a glass of wine and her favorite meal. 

The lasagna was so delicious that she had to stop herself from humming. The garlic bread was hot and crusty, just as she liked it. She should have been comforted, but all she could think about was the man outside in the cold.

She ordered a coffee to go and asked for a take-home box with a plastic fork. She paid the check and returned to the park bench where she’d seen the man.

“Are you still here?” 

“Yes.”

“Here is some food and a cup of coffee, and here, take my mittens. They will keep your hands warm.” 

“Thank you, Miss. You are too kind. Most people pretend not to see me. Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas to you, too.” Lydie stuffed her hands into her pockets and headed home feeling better about herself. A kind act that didn’t cost her much meant so much to the man in the shadows.

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Dawn DeBraal

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Dawn DeBraal lives in rural Wisconsin with her husband, Red, two rescue dogs, and a stray cat. She has published over 570 drabbles, short stories, and poems in online ezines and anthologies, including Black Hare Press, Black Ink Fiction, Blood Song Books, Zimbel House Publishing, Terror House Magazine, CafeLit UK, Potato Soup Journal, Impspired Magazine, Commuter Lit, The World of Myth, Valiant Scribe, Wicked Shadow Press, Unsettling Reads, and more. She co-wrote a novel under the pen name of Garrison McKnight, nominated for 2019 Pushcart Award, Falling Star Magazine, runner up in the 2022 Horror Short Story Contest.

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