THE SMILE MERCHANT-A short story with lessons about smiling

Stories always have a way of teaching lessons in a sweet, beautiful and sometimes painful manner. They leave the reader pondering and trying to figure out what the lesson was about. Not only children learn that way, adults could learn even more if they´d only released their inner child.

I like my stories direct and very obvious since my only aim is to deliver a message. It may not earn me a fortune, but that is not my purpose either. If I can have one reading get the morale of the story and successfully apply it in his/her life, I´ll be satisfied.

I will not make an introduction. I will let you judge by yourself and decide what´s there to be learned and applied in your own life.

I hope you like it!

Warmest hugs and infinite heavenly blessings,

I LOVE YOU ALL,

Al

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People kept on coming to Melankólia, a lugubrious, sad place, with such a depressing ambiance, that one was wondering: why did they come? To what did they come? Even the sun there was pale and cold.

The Cafe “il Ragazzo giú” (the depressed boy) belonging to Pieroluigi Senzánima, was the only place of meeting in Melankólia.

It was a receptacle of all kinds of artists, poets, stressed individuals, survivors to attempts of suicide;but never a slovenly, second-hand-clothes dealer, had been allowed in “il Ragazzo giú”.

Elegies, songs of spite, tragedies, public criticism and gossiping were the favorite spectacles of Pieroluigi.

One day, a ragged, bearded character presented himself, and did his entry in the Cafe. The place became mute before such presence. Pieroluigi, eyeing the man, shouted from the bar: “Out! Out of here, filthy rag! Your class is not welcome in this respectable place!! Get Out! "

“My class, you say, my dear sir?” The man answered with a smile that illuminated the whole enclosure. “But, I see just human beings here. Only that. I am not an animal" He added still smiling. "Besides, my dear sir, I came here to give. I did not come to beg “

“And what can you offer us that we already do not possess, dirty beggar?” Pieroluigi answered, as he despitefully laughed and looked smugly at everyone for having insulted the poor man. The beggar kept on smiling and  said to him:

" I propose something to you, my dear sir: allow me a few moments  alone with each one of the people present; if  I convince them that they do not have everything, you  will give me a warm meal and a good glass of wine. But if I shall fail, you will be free to do with me as you please. How`s that? “

The Cafe was flooded by a big guffaw of everyone present. Pieroluigi thought for a brief moment, shrugged his shoulders and said:

“Very well, beggar. I wish you the best of luck. You are going to need it”

And so it happened. One by one met with the beggar, and one by one abandoned the place with a big smile on his face. Eventually, only Pieroluigi and the beggar remained there.

The curiosity of the Cafe owner was such, that he went closer to the vagabond and asked him: “What do you carry in that bag, beggar? What do you have in there that my money and my cozy place could not buy? ”

“It is precisely that, my dear sir! A thing nobody can buy! ” the beggar said. “ I´ll make you a deal, my dear gentleman: I shall give you the whole contents of my bag in barter for your Cafe”.

“B-but, but have you lost your wits, crazy beggar? Nothing you carry in that sordid sack of yours can pay for a chair of my Cafe! ” Refuted Pieroluigi.

“Very well then, I shall remain with the secret of its content and don´t worry for the meal or the wine. I am already pretty satisfied.  I shall go now” he added.

“Just a moment! How so? You have not proved a morsel! ” Pieroluigi said.

Ignoring him, the vagabond continued on his way with his sack to the shoulder. But before he could leave the place, Pieroluigi shouted at him:

“Wait! Wait! I accept! I accept! It has to be something extraordinary you carry in that sack for everyone to have left so satisfied. Give to me here! ” he said as he tried to snatch the sack out of his hands.

“A moment, my dear sir” the beggar answered hiding the sack to his back. “There is one condition!” “Hey! What else do you want from me? I am giving you everything I possess! ” protested Pieroluigi.

“You will have to continue on with my task. Can`t have my treasure and remain here! “He warned.

“Alright! Alright! Here, take the keys to my Cafe. Now give me the bag!

“And so the beggar did; he took the keys and delivered his sack. Pieroluigi opened the bag desperately and as the contents revealed itself his face was illuminated like the sun.

He looked at the vagabond and smiled, mounted the sack on his right shoulder and left without saying one word. The vagabond looked back at him and said: “Here I will be waiting for you, my friend, when you have finished your task”

Saying this, the beggar disappeared and the Cafe with him.

In the far distance, a sweet melody was heard… It was humming Pieroluigi, the Smile Merchant...

- NOT ONLY OUT OF BREAD A MAN LIVES-

Copyright ©Mystique®2010

Copyright ©Mystique®2007