Jingle in the change

by Becaley Elsie

Going downstairs to mail off my letter is what I have in my mind as I get ready to walk to the post office. I think to myself, do I have enough change to mail this thick letter? I go to my truck to find extra change somewhere on the floor, and nothing comes from my empty ashtray, but I do find a dollar and seventy-eight cents within the door panels, so I add it to the pile within my pocket, making more sounds with my cents. I personally like to go to the government to pay fines or big-owned super-chain stores and drop all of my pennies on the counter to pay for my purchases. Money is money, no matter how small the currency. I always only bring enough where they cannot refuse me, but they know if they were to ask me to leave, it would take me all day to pick up every single penny I put down. I am having this conversation out loud and, “Yes to myself.” A tiny little squirrel pulls on my shoelaces to get my attention. I am surprised to see that it is a squirrel with a mustache.; it is reaching up to give me its acorn. I smiled at the squirrel’s thought of kindness and thought to myself, “The acorn is worth more to the squirrel than the change in my pocket because it is food?” Before I reach down to accept its gift, it runs a few steps back, breaking off the lid of the acorn, popping the main part of the acorn in its mouth, then hops back over to me and hands me the lid. I am sure that I just accepted the mustache-y squirrel’s change.

Artist Statement

This writing came about when we were discussing the word change. I was ready to rip onto my paper and write the change in that have gone on within my life the hardships and the struggle but then I realized the world needs creative, joy, and fun. ENOUGH!
I write to create a world that I wish existed to help me weather the hard parts and the silly rock beneath my feet.

*Becaley submitted this digital art to the blog last year. Unfortunately, health constraints prevented us from posting it until today. My apologies to our audience and to Becaley –Blog Editors