-- This is very, very old - about twenty some-odd years. I don't know where the idea came from. It just showed up one day and wrote itself. I've posted it because it has the honor of being the only thing I've ever written that has never been edited - and the fact that it's survived this long. You are seeing the original thought, as is.

The Star Money

Not so long ago, only a few years back, there was a young girl who was very lonely. Her father had left his family to seek his fortune alone. Her mother was ill and could not care for her and sent her to live with her aunt. The young girl’s aunt cared only for herself and did not want to waste time taking care of her niece. So the young girl ran away with nothing but the clothes she wore and a sandwich she had made before leaving.

Living on the streets of a big city was not easy. After two days of begging for very little the young girl was tired, cold, and hungry. Fifty-cents was not enough to buy anything. So she walked five blocks to the nearest park and looked for a place to sleep. No sooner had she reached the park, than she came across an old man who had nothing to call his own.

“Please, little girl, could you spare some change? My bones ache and are not suited for this cold weather.”

The young girl began to walk away, but seeing the old man in pain made her think of her own father. What if he were here instead? “Very well,” said she. “I shall give you my fifty-cents that you may buy something hot to drink.”

“Oh, thank you, very much!” cried the old man.

The young girl walked on into the park.

Over by the swings the young girl heard someone crying. She went to investigate. She found another girl, younger than she, trying to put on a dress that was much too small for her to wear. The young girl thought of her younger sister that had died as a baby. What if this was her sister? She sighed and reluctantly gave away her own dress to the little girl, which left her with only a thin slip for clothing.

Trying to find a dark corner to hide in, the young girl came across a stand of boulders. They didn’t leave much room to sleep under, but no one would notice her until morning. Taking off her shoes to use as a pillow, the young girl tried to sleep.

It was bitter cold and having nothing to protect her kept her from sleeping. She gazed at the few stars showing and began to think about her mother. I would give anything to make my mother better, she thought. I would even give my life to save hers.

At that moment a bright light began to reflect from the other side of her makeshift cave. The sky, now showing thousands of stars, was shining on what looked to be an old chest sticking up from the ground. Digging with excitement, the young girl pulled the chest out from its hiding place and carefully opened it up. Inside she found a small bag with lots of old quarters and a long box with very old bills. Why, here was a coin collection, and from the dates, were worth a fortune!

The young girl cried out with joy. Here was the answer to prayers!

Early before sunrise, the young girl went out in search of clothing. She sold her coin collection, became rich and famous and cared for her mother till she was well again. As for the aunt, she was so interested in watching her reflection in the mirror that she stepped into the street in oncoming traffic and was killed instantly.

THE END