Exceptional a 175 word story Short : Boxes by Bill Schott

"Want to buy a Girl Scout cookie box?" asked the old man. He smiled up at me through bushy eyebrows and an unshaven face. An army service cover fit his head poorly, spread open, crooked, and in need of laundering. He sat on a newspaper box outside the grocery store. "Did your granddaughter enlist you for this job, Sarge?" "Someone's granddaughter." "How much?" "Two bucks a box." "Well, I won't find a better deal. Give me five boxes." Taking my twenty dollar bill, the old man handed me five boxes. I instantly realized several things at the same moment. First, the boxes were empty. Second, the old man looked at me with the face of a child awaiting a scolding. Even then, I felt differently about this than I can explain. "If you keep the change," I said, smiling, "we'll consider it one for the price of two." He smiled back. A shy and wilting expression of numerous emotions all at once. Leaving, I smiled as well, for similar reasons. Recognized

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