Boy , I feel lucky .

   A few days ago , I stopped at some yard sale . My curiousity was rewarded when I spotted a plastic bag filled with used color pencils .

   My heart rate picked up as I stretched my hand to grab the bag , but someone else was faster .

   I looked at a tiny hand that belonged to a thin arm that belonged to a toddler that belonged to a woman standing next to him .

   Why in the world this baby wanted these pencils ? He'll only poke himself with them , I'm sure , or draw on the walls with permanent Red , I thought . Why or why he wouldn't go and look at the toys !

   I straightened up and smiled at both of them , but I don't think my smile came out  sincere . A smart woman understood me all too well .

  " He really likes yellow . If we could have just the yellow ones , you can take the rest of them ," she said .

  A compromise ?

  " That would be very nice of you ," I said .

 And then she showed me what the real smile looks like ...

 It's morning . I sit at the computer , eyeing a new addition of color to my bouquet : Chartreuse , Imrerial Violet , Tuscan Red , Periwinkle ...

 Boy , I feel happy .