a Stranger's Words

I am leaning out of the drive through window, pictures in hand, stretching out to the elderly lady in her van.

I've just arrived at work, traces of happines still lingering on my clothes from home. I am curly messy hair, turquoise earrings, and smoky eye shadow.

As she takes the pictures she looks at me and says, "You are so pretty."

And I, in my glorious awkwardness, find myself blushing and tongue tied.

I flash her my smile - the special one I only use when I'm really, truly happy, the one where my eyes crinkle up. "Oh thank you, thank you."

I am shrugging my shoulders and turning my face away, not sure what to say.

"You're a good thing to see," she tells me before driving away.

I close the window and turn to walk away - remembering how, on the drive back to willmar I'd just been thinking - I wonder if a stranger told me I was beautiful, I would believe them?

It turns out, I would...a little bit :)