The Corner Store

The store was six blocks away. She remembered a day when she would have put on her flip flops and walked down there with no problem. She needed butter. That was it. Just butter to finish cooking the meal she was preparing for her daughter and her family. Elyse had been on disability for three months now and she hated every second of it. The most joy she had all week was when her daughter, husband and kids came to visit on Sunday.

Elyse had suffered complications due to her diabetes six months ago, and the freedom of walking had been stripped from her completely. She had gone to rehab and could now get around, but things were never going to be as they were. She could not wait for a day when they found a cure for this cursed disease.

Today was no different than any other Sunday except that she had not made it to church this morning. She had planned on going but when she went to step out of bed, she had not held on to the walker like she was supposed to, and somehow ended up on the floor. The thirty minutes it had taken for her to make her way up and off the floor was not that awful. But the exhaustion she felt after the effort was too much to handle. So instead for being filled up, she felt used up. Luckily, she had not called for the taxi yet. She always waited until she was ready for that. Too many times had she kept them waiting and it had cost her more than she had wanted.

It had taken her all morning to get her shower, dressed, and put the finishing touches on the meal. She had made her Mexican Lasagna that she was known for. The kids loved it. The grand babies love it. She felt useful once more because she was doing something for others.

Elyse went to her phone and checked her bank account. She did not have enough to have the butter delivered. Besides, five dollars for one container of butter was too much. And then she would have to worry about them getting the right thing to boot. Her daughter was vegan, so she needed the plant- based butter, preferably the coconut, as it tasted the best. How she had forgotten the butter was beyond her. She had gotten the Crumblers in lieu of meat, she had even gotten the plant-based cheese. This being vegan once a week was good for her. Since her set back she did not need the levels of food she did before when she walked more.

Elyse had not been able to afford to customize her vehicle yet, but she was only six blocks. Surely her scooter cart would make it that far and back. She inhaled deeply as she set off. She gathered her purse, got on her cart and then made it to the front door. She then had to stand, open the door, hook it so it stayed open, drive the cart out. Then stop again and unhook the door and make sure it was locked behind her. She surely did not want any surprises when she arrived back home.  Finally, she was down her driveway and moving down the road.

When she got there, she was happy to see the ramp had been repaired and she would not have to try and navigate the stairs. She had her cane hooked on the back of her scooter, but that is how she would already have to navigate the small aisles inside. Her cart could not make it through. Parking at the front door she headed inside. She was greeted by the “Sunday” girl Lois. The girl was sweet, Elyse knew her life was not wonderful, so she never burdened her with stories of Elyse’s current state of affairs, but she did always check on her.

“So, Lois, anything new?” she asked cautiously. Lois shook her head. “Just happy to see your smiling face again Ms. Elyse.” Was the spry girl’s answer.  Elyse puttered around the store and found the exact butter she wanted. Then she heard the clerk talk to her again, this time a bit quieter than before. “Actually Ms. Elyse, do you know anyone with mad math skills?” Elyse laughed. “That would be me dear, unless you have to use one of those new-fangled graphing calculators, I never got the gist of those.”

Lois’ face lit up. “Really Ms. Elyse, would you help me with my math class? It is mainly the word problems; I mess them up every time.” Elyse made her way slowly to the check out. “I do believe I can help you Lois.” As Elyse stood there, she took one of the pens from the cup and wrote down her address and phone number.  She slid the paper over to Lois. “Don’t lose that.”

“Any evening but Sunday, I can help. Just give me a call and we will find a time that suits both of us.” The elation on Lois’ face made Elyse smile, it was one that made it all the way to her eyes. Who knew that a simple, and inconvenient trip to the store would bring her a new friend?

As Elyse rode her scooter back home, her brain began to pop with new ideas. If Lois needed help, maybe others did. She could not drive everywhere she used to. She did not have the strength to go places, but her mind still was sharp. She could invite people in. That would help with the loneliness as well.

After the dinner that Sunday, Elyse not only began tutoring Lois, but she set up a small business tutoring other children and teenagers in the neighborhood. Elyse never charged, she just asked that they share with her what they could. She ended up with meals, rides to the store, and more than that a new lease on life. All because she took a simple trip to the corner store