WALKING HOME

Mark was walking home one day from school. He noticed the boy ahead of him had tripped and dropped all of the books he was carrying, along with two sweaters, a baseball bat, a glove and a small tape recorder. Mark nelt down and helped the boy pick up the scattered articles. Since they were heading the same way Mark helped the boy carry part of the burden. As they walked Mark discovered that the boys name was Bill, that he loved video games, baseball, and history, and he was having lots of trouble with his other subjects, and he had just broken up with his girlfriend. Tkhey arived a Bills home first. Mark was invited in to have a Coke and watch TV. The afternoon passed pleasently and they shared some small talk then Mark went home. They continued to see each other af at school and had lunch together once or twice, then both graduated from Jr. High. They had brief contacts over the years. Finally the long awaited senior year came. Three weeks before graduation Bill asked Mark if they could talk. Bill reminded him of the day they met. "Did you ever wonder why I was carrying so many things home that day?" asked Bill. "You see, I cleaned out my locker because I didn't want to leave a mess for anyone. I had stored away my mothers sleeping pills and I was going to commit suicide. But afer we spent time together laughing and talking I realized that if I had killed myself, I would have missed that time and so many others that might follow. So you see, Mark, when you picked up those books that day, you did a lot more, you saved my life." Remember everyone every little hello, every little smile, every helping hand saves a hurting heart.