It's never a good idea to judge people on first impressions. We only have to look to the amazing Susan Boyle for proof of that. Or we could take the old couple by the name of Bernie and Bessie that decided to retire by the ocean, so that they could walk along the beach each day picking up shells as they watched the sun rise and set.  Each morning as they walked arm in arm, they noticed the same young girl on the beach.

Nothing about her seemed odd or unusual, nor was the large denim bag she always had slung loosely over her shoulder out of place.  The only thing that did seem a little odd was the way she'd cautiously approach people already sitting on the beach before speaking to them for a few moments - before quickly moving on. 

Most of the people she stopped to talk to seemed to shake their heads or raise their arms up at her in slight annoyance, but she'd just stand up, smile politely and move on unabashed.  Occasionally though, someone would give her a slight nod, smile at her and money would be exchanged for whatever it was she seemed to be carrying in her large denim bag.

Naturally, Bernie and Bessie jumped to conclusions by deciding she must be peddling drugs on the beach.  I mean, why else the need for the large denim bag and the flight of the bumble bee dance around the beach from one group of beachgoers to the next?  Not having anything to back up their suspicions though, they decided to wait a little longer before getting the police involved.  Just to make sure she was as bad as they thought.  After all, wasn't today's youth more trouble than they were worth? 

After a few days of watching her surreptitiously in the background; Bessie came to the sudden realization that they young girl only seemed to approach people with boom boxes and other electronic devices.  So, as cunning as a fox, she decided that she and Bernie would bring along their own hand held radio the very next day in the hope that the girl would come up and speak with them.  Then she would be sure to catch her in the act and get her arrested for illegal activity.  It was, after all, their civic duty to keep their precious beach safe from the likes of the young girl and others of her ilk, despite never having made the time to speak with her at any time in the past.  Not even to exchange a simple "hello."

Imagine Bessie's delight the next day then when she saw the young girl approach them as they sat back relaxing in their deck chairs, ready to pounce on their unsuspecting victim.  "Hello, it's a beautiful day, isn't it?"  She said as she greeted them with a broad smile.  "Yes", replied the old man a little guiltily, "It sure is that!"

"I notice you're carrying a radio" she continued, "Would you be interested in buying some new batteries for it?" reaching for her large denim bag as she did so.  "New batteries!" Bessie shrieked in obvious disappointment.  "Yes mam, I've got a whole bag full of them" she said patting her bag ever so lightly as she did.  "No, thank you." said Bessie a little too quickly, "We're more than capable of buying our own batteries thank you very much."  "No problem!" said the young girl starting to rise.  "You all have a nice day now" she chirped back as she went happily about her way. 
 
What a lovely young girl thought Bernie as he said to his wife: "I think we were a little too quick to judge that delightful young lass Bessie" his words falling with a heavy sigh.  "You never can tell" she fired back not at all pleased by his last comment.  But that's just the point, isn't it?  You never can tell - and we should all be a little less quick to judge people we haven't even bothered to take the time to get to know.


© Charles Anthony McFaulds