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continued. “But you keep singing. Your songs will make you strong. They might even make
you happy.”
People buzzed down the busy corridors of the courthouse while we sat silently.
“Well, you’re very good at what you do,” I finally said. “I feel much better.”
She slapped my arm playfully. “Oh, don’t you try to charm me, young man. You felt just
fine before you saw me. Them men are going home and you were fine walking around here. I
just do what I do, nothing more.”
When I finally excused myself, giving her a kiss on the cheek and telling her I needed to
sign the prisoners’ release papers, she stopped me. “Oh, wait.” She dug around in her purse
until she found a piece of wrapped peppermint candy. “Here, take this.”
The gesture made me happy in a way that I can’t fully explain.
“Well, thank you.” I smiled and leaned down to give her another kiss on the cheek.
She waved at me, smiling. “Go on, go on.”