Thinking

Describe a random encounter with a stranger that stuck out positively to you.

I’m pretty sure something will come to mind.

I can think of a handful of funny, or wacky, but positive? Hmmm

Ok. When I was in Kenya the first time, I met a handful or young teenagers. It seemed that that age group was the most interested in me painting the giant mural. We were only there for a week. One of the girls I will always remember. She asked me about my family, my parents. I told her they had passed. She said, in the most compassionate way I’ve ever heard, “Oh you are an orphan like me.” My parents were older, and I didn’t think of myself as an orphan, but I saw how this had bonded her to me. She would often come over and take my hand and smile at me.

When it was time for us to leave, I asked her what she might want from America if I could send something back. She didn’t hesitate. “A book.”

A book.

I mentioned this to one of the retired teachers I was traveling with. She mentioned it to the other retired teacher. We had all been told in different ways that books were in short supply and that it was a universal want.

Before coming back, a book drive was organized by these two teachers. I shopped myself for books with strong women characters. That one young girl inspired a huge outpouring of giving. We brought enough books for two schools to have libraries and for every child to own their own book. Who doesn’t want to donate books to children? I never saw my young friend again.

My second trip was two years later. I searched and asked, but no one knew Shw was probably married was what I was told.

A random stranger who became my friend for a week, she doesn’t even know that she inspired two libraries, several very moving encounters over owning books and the kindest of literary generosity . I will never forget her.