FICTION — SHORT STORY
Last Seen Near Willow Park
An old radio plays a classic from the 60s on a shelf behind Mr. Cooper in the convenience store. The music is interrupted by an announcement:
“This is Detective Bloomer, San Francisco Police. Be alert for a purse snatcher, a tall man, about seven feet, with short dark hair and a beard. He was last seen near Willow Park on Saturday night. If you see this man, do not approach him and call authorities immediately.”
The store, filled with the scent of stale coffee and burnt hot dogs, fell silent. All the customers, including a weary mother and an elderly man clutching his newspaper, turned towards the radio — everyone except Mrs. Ladbury. She was carefully selecting apples near the back of the store. Hard of hearing, she remained oblivious. She lost grip of an apple, and it rolled away, stopping at the feet of a very tall man by the hot cocoa machine.
He immediately picked it up and handed it to Mrs. Ladbury. “Here you are, ma’am,” he said, his voice soft and calm.
“Oh, thank you, young man. Such a dear,” she replied, smiling.
The man nodded and went back to fixing his hot cocoa. All eyes were on the giant as he fastened the lid on his cocoa and wiped the counter with a napkin. A collective tension was rising, broken only by two boys arguing over a chocolate bar in the candy aisle.
Mr. Cooper, shaking, picked up the phone. The tall man noticed and strolled toward the counter.
On the other end of the phone, “This is the San Francisco Police Department; how may I help you?” There was a pause. Mr. Cooper could not find the words as the giant towered over him, his eyes tense without an expression. “Hello?” They hung up. Mr. Cooper dropped the phone.
The tall man placed the hot cocoa on the counter with a pack of chewing gum.
Mr. Cooper, nervously, “Will that, umm, will that be all sir?”
“Yes. And I’d like to pay for the lovely ladies’ apples.”
The store occupants sighed with relief as the goliath exited the store.
An altercation broke out in front of the store a few hours later. A very tall figure was attempting to steal an old lady’s purse. Seeing the altercation unfold, Mr. Cooper hid behind the counter. The old lady fought back and would not let go. The figure stumbled and crashed onto the pavement, spilling out Mr. Thompson, Mrs. Thompson, and little Jared Thompson.
They run a local circus act, and times are tough.
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