Meant to Be

Jared stepped back from the counter; glancing around as he began tidying up and preparing for the end of his shift. His gaze landed on a packet of seeds from the wire carousel sitting to the left of the register.

“Crap.” Jared ran a hand through his hair and picked up the small packet. It was an old envelope, the corners bent and frayed with a faded picture of three marigolds, ranging in color from a buttery yellow to a burnished sunset orange.

Where was that old man? Jared though as he scanned the store. The man who had bought these particular seeds. Hadn’t he just left? Maybe Jared could catch him. The boy spun on his heels and hurried out the door of the mercantile, the little bell jingling happily, ushering the sounds of midday Philadelphia traffic into the little store. A voice from the back workroom— Charlie— hollered her disapproval as Jared waved the packet of seeds, shouted a hurried apology, and let the door close with another pleasant tinkle.

The man had turned left, and Jared began running to catch up, long legs covering the city blocks with ease. He stumbled to a stop, noticing the man’s hunched form, in his blue and corn silk yellow plaid shirt, slowly making his way up a flight of stairs to the Albert M. Greenfield Elementary School. Turning too fast, Jared crashed into the corner of the schoolyard wall. He gasped sharply and fell to the pavement, losing his grip on the sachet of seeds and feeling the sting of pain in his hands as he broke his fall.

The man stopped, turning around, a look of concern spreading across his wizened features. He began walking over to Jared, leaning heavily on his cane. Jared looked up just in time to see the old man staring down at him, gray and white hair poking out from under his goldenrod newsboys cap, blue eyes full of worry. He waved to Jared, offering his hand. However, seeing Jared’s injured palms, he withdrew the proffered aid in order to avoid hurting the boy further.

Jared nodded, rising stiffly to his feet, and trying to be polite through the pain.

“Sir! Um—” He knelt down again and gingerly picked up the packet of seeds. It had ripped during the fall and now leaked several of the tiny would-be flowers. “Oh… I’m sorry. You left this at the store I work at down the road and I wanted to bring them to you.” He trailed off as he held out the seeds. The man began to wave again and Jared finally realized he was using sign language. Jared winced and shook his head apologetically.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know sign language…” The man’s eyes widened and he nodded; gently smacking his forehead with his left hand in playful act of reprimand. He took out a small booklet and pen and began to scribble a short message which he handed to Jared in exchange for the seeds he now held in his own wrinkled hands.

I remember you. Thank you for bringing these to me. Do not worry about the ones that fell. They were simply meant to be planted there. The old man smiled and Jared matched it after scanning the paper.

The school bell rang loudly, making both figures on the sidewalk look back towards the building’s entrance. Jared nodded with finality and turned to leave, however, a shaky hand touched his arm gently. Jared looked to see the old man beckoning to him and pointing at the school, a warm smile on his face. Pairs of parents and children walked out of the building as the Jared followed the elderly man to the front doors. A young teacher with short black hair, a clean blue blouse, and a black pencil skirt led a young girl with a pink backpack and a pink shirt displaying a cartoon character Jared didn’t recognize down the stairs to the old man.

Jared found himself completely oblivious of the pain in his hands as the girl caught sight of the old man, who the woman had called her grandfather, and ran over to him, throwing her arms around him and speaking excitedly about her day.

The old man signed his thanks to the teacher who smiled at them both and turned back to the school building. The man signed to his granddaughter and pointed to Jared after showing her the marigold seeds. The girl turned to the young man and smiled, waving at him shyly.

“Hi! Who are you?” Jared waved back, hiding the scuffs on his hands as he knelt down to her level. “My name is Jared. What’s yours?” The girl turned away, but her grandfather encouraged her to continue talking.

“Mari”

“Mari? That’s a pretty name. It’s very nice to meet you Mari.” The teenager reached out a hand and offered a fist-bump which Mari eagerly accepted. Jared stood up and saw the old man smiling broadly at them both, pride visible in his kindly face.

Jared smiled at them and explained that he had to get back to the store to help Charlie restock. He waved to Mari again, then to the old man who tipped his hat and began leading his granddaughter down the sidewalk, listening to her talk passionately about the adventures a school day held for a young child.

***

In the weeks and months that followed, Jared made himself a friend in the old man who now came by routinely to visit and buy groceries. Every shift that Jared worked in the mercantile, he saw the man, and each time the man would wave and smile. Jared learned basic signs from his new friend, including the signs for hello, goodbye, thank you, and you’re welcome along with an adequate amount of fingerspelling.

One day, about two months after he first met the man— whose name was Roger Francis— Jared went his entire day without seeing him. The young man finished his shift with Charlie like always and made up his mind to go to the elementary school in order to find his friend.

He reached the school before the children were released yet still saw no sign of Roger. Jared had just decided to retrace his steps in case he had somehow missed the elderly man, when the school bell stopped him in his tracks. Upon making his way to the front of the school, Jared was thrilled to see Mari walking out of the building and sitting down on one of the steps as if waiting for Roger as well.

Jared smiled and walked over to her, waving to the little girl to get her attention. She easily recognized him as they had seen each other several times over the last few months but, initially, she gave no sign of acknowledgment.

“Hello!” Jared sat down next to her, handing her a small lollipop which he had intended to give Roger that day, as had become a tradition between the two at the mercantile. Mari’s eyes lit up as she took the lollipop and she looked up at Jared hopefully.

“Is grandpa coming?”

Jared was taken aback. Slowly, it dawned on him and he started to put together what must have happened, instantly feeling a pang of loss.

“Um… Maybe not today Mari. Would you like me to walk home with you?” Mari shook her head stubbornly and didn’t take Jared’s hand once he stood up and offered.

Suddenly, a glint of gold caught Jared’s eye and he looked back the way he had come. How had he missed that before? A tall orange marigold stood proudly by the corner where Jared had fallen months before. He walked over to it and picked it carefully. Then, running back to Mari, he offered her the flower.

She looked at it curiously as if it were simply a dream that would blow away if she held it, but after a moment she took it and held it close to her chest. Jared felt tears in the corner of his eyes, but he kept it together, hoping to help her get home. The woman who walked Mari out before appeared beside them.

“You were Roger’s friend, right? You two were close?” Jared nodded.

“So, it’s true? He’s… He’s gone?”

“Yes. I’m sorry. We heard over the weekend. I’ve been taking Mari home for the time being, her parents are both working full time.”

“Alright. Thank you.” Jared nodded again, holding back the tears that threatened to engulf him. He would have left but for Mari taking hold of his hand with one hand, the other still clutching the flower tightly. The young woman watched them with a pitying expression and Jared managed a sad smile.

“How about I come with you? Would that be alright?” The woman seemed apprehensive at first but then nodded and the three took off down the sidewalk. After a long moment of silence, Mari tugged on Jared’s shirt to get his attention and began quietly explaining the details of her day as she had every day to Roger. Jared listened intently and waited to ask questions, attempting to keep the conversation going, but his mind wandered back to the first day he had met Roger. To the words Roger had given him; so unassuming, yet so powerful:

They were simply meant to be planted there.