Shoeshine Girl Read Online Free PDF

She sat looking at it.
    Someone spoke to her. It was a man she knew—a customer. “Where’s Al?”
    â€œHe’s . . . gone,” she said.
    â€œWell, can you give me a shine?”
    He climbed into a chair. She could hardly think, but her hands knew what to do. She shined his shoes.
    Another customer came by. She shined his shoes.
    Then a tall young man was there. She had never seen him before. “I’m from the newspaper,” he said. “Did you see the accident?”
    She nodded.

    â€œWhat happened?”
    â€œHe was coming across the street, and the car—the car—” She couldn’t go on.
    â€œWhat’s your name?” he asked.
    She told him.
    â€œAny relation to Claudia Becker?”
    â€œShe’s my aunt.”
    â€œAre you visiting her?”
    â€œYes.”
    â€œHow old are you? About ten?”
    â€œNearer eleven.”
    â€œHow long have you worked here?”
    â€œA month.”
    â€œAre you going to keep the stand open?”
    â€œI—” She said suddenly, “Yes, I am.”
    â€œGood luck to you,” the man said, and he went away.
    A customer came, then another. She hoped someone would bring her news of Al, but no one did. Late in the day she took off her apron and closed the stand.
    She wasn’t sure where Al lived, but she knew it was on the other side of town. She went down Grand Avenue and across the railroad tracks. She came to streets where the houses were small and close together.
    She asked several people, “Do you know where Al Winkler lives?” At last she found someone who told her.
    She found the house. It was tiny and it needed paint. A woman came to the door.
    Sarah Ida asked, “Could I see Al?”
    The woman had been crying. She said, “Al’s not here. He’s been hurt.”
    â€œDidn’t the ambulance bring him home?” asked Sarah Ida.
    â€œNo. He’s in the hospital,” said the woman. “You must be Sarah Ida. I’m Doris. I’m Al’s wife. Come on in.”
    Sarah Ida went into a small, neat room.
    â€œI just came from the hospital,” said the woman.
    â€œHow is he?” asked Sarah Ida.
    â€œI don’t know. They don’t tell you anything.” Tears ran down the woman’s cheeks. “I don’t know what we’re going to do.”
    â€œI brought you this.” Sarah Ida took the money out of her pocket and put it down on a chair. “It’s what I made today. I kept out some change. I’ll need that for tomorrow.”
    â€œThanks,” said the woman.
    â€œI’ll be over again. I hope Al is going to be all right.”
    Sarah Ida went home.
    Aunt Claudia said, “Do you know what time it is? I’ve been waiting—” She saw Sarah Ida’s face. “What is it?” she asked.
    Sarah Ida told her what had happened. “I’m going to keep the stand open.”
    She waited for Aunt Claudia to say, “You can’t keep it open all by yourself.”
    But Aunt Claudia said instead, “Yes. I think you should.”

Across the Railroad Tracks
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    Sarah Ida was up early in the morning.
    â€œI just called the hospital,” Aunt Claudia said. “The nurse said Al had a good night.”
    â€œThey don’t tell you anything,” said Sarah Ida.
    She could hardly eat her breakfast. There was a lump in her throat.
    â€œWill you be home for lunch?” asked Aunt Claudia, as Sarah Ida left the house.
    â€œI forgot about lunch. No, I won’t have time,” said Sarah Ida, and she hurried off to Shoeshine Corner.
    She unlocked the folding door and pushed it back. It was strange being there without Al. She thought of the way he’d looked up at her and reached for the key. Even then he’d been thinking about the shoeshine stand.
    It meant a lot to him. She was right to keep it open.
    Every morning Al bought a newspaper for the customers to