My Big Sister

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My Big Sister

She was so concentrated on her task that at first she did not hear the quiet voice behind her. In one hand she held an enormous clear plastic bag, and with the other she was picking scarves off a display rack and haphazardly stuffing them into the bag. She worked quickly because after an hour in the town hall, she was ready to head home. An hour of speeches read in a passionate monotone had left her feeling a strange apathy.

She usually enjoyed the annual Homeless Vigil, and had worked very hard to collect the hats and scarves she now treated with such indifference. Standing alone on the now empty stage and gazing out into the rows of decaying wooden chairs, she tried to imagine the people her work would help, but found she didn't really care. All she could think about was getting out of that old building and going somewhere with central heating.

With a sudden clarity, she realized that she didn't want to be a part of this farce anymore. What did it mean if a few middle class families got together once a year to be preached at by a bunch of tired social service workers? They listened patiently for an hour, then donated a few bucks to assuage their consciences. They drove home in their foreign cars to their nice two story houses and ate a hot meal, confident that they had paid their dues to humanity. If they could be so easily satisfied, so could she.

"Excuse me, ma'am?" Finally the voice got her attention, and she turned around. The small voice belonged to an equally small boy shifting nervously from foot to foot.

"What is it, Hon?" she managed a tired smile.

"I heard your speech tonight, about all those kids who don't have anywhere to live. You said that you were collecting clothes and stuff to keep them warm."

"That's right. This time of year it is especially hard for them.

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