LOOK FOR ME

The small pocket sized playground on Mulberry Street in lower Manhattan was deserted except for a lone figure hunched over on a bench.

Hatty Gilbert sat staring at the barren flower bed as tears rolled down her cheeks. She had promised Sonny that whenever she was in Manhattan she would come to the little park to visit the flower bed where his ashes were buried.

She found that it was best to come on wet, dank days, when the park was empty of children and their mothers, so that she could grieve in peace.

Whenever she came to the park memories flooded into her mind bringing everything she shared with Sonny up to the surface. She laughed and she cried. Sonny was bigger than life and the very thought that he was gone was a struggle she had to deal with.

She was so immersed in her memories she never noticed the large figure that loomed above her.

“Are you all right Miss?” The soft voice asked.

She looked up startled at the uniformed policeman who stood before her.

With tears falling down her cheeks she replied hesitantly, “Yes and no.”

“May I be helping you?” he asked, his voice full of compassion.

“Not really.” she answered.

“May I ask then what you are doing here? You don’t come from this neighborhood because I know most of the people around here.”

She dried her tears and smiled sadly. “You’re right; I don’t come from around here. But my heart is in that little flower bed.”

“And why should that make you cry?” He looked at her strangely.

“Because,” She answered, her voice choking, “I buried the ashes of the man I love in this little patch of earth.”

He looked at her sadly, “We all bury someone we love. But be happy. He is close to you in a happy place that is usually filled with the laughter of children. “

She smiled. “You are so right. I never thought of that.”

He smiled back. “Tell me,” he urged, “About this great love of yours and why are his ashes buried in a children’s playground.”

She straightened up and dried her tears. “He grew up in this neighborhood and played stick ball here after school every day. He said they were the happiest days of his childhood and wanted to spend eternity here.”

He took her hand into his. “My dear lady, if this was his wish and it was carried out then you should be happy for him.”

“I am,” She replied, “But I miss him so much.”

“Of course you do, and don’t ever not miss him.”

“He was my life. He was my heart. He was my everything.”

The policeman smiled, “He wanted to be buried here because he wanted you to share in a part of his life that was filled with joy. Do that and you will come down here with a smile on your face and a song in your heart.”

She laughed. “Are you really a policeman? Or are you a guardian angel who rescues people in distress.”

“Both,” he laughed. “That’s my job, and I love it. I tell people things are not as bad as they seem and that there is always a silver lining in the sky, and you will find it if you look for it.”

She smiled. “Thank you for your kindness. I needed that.”

He tipped his hat, “You’re welcome and when you come here, be happy, I’m sure that was what he wanted.” He turned and left the park. At the gate leading into and out of the park, he turned and saluted her.

He had seen many strange things in this little park and they still astonished him when he saw something unusual like this well-dressed lady sitting in this little inner-city playground crying her eyes out and telling an unusual story about ashes being buried in the little, pathetic flower bed.

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