"What could this possibly be?" I thought to myself. Why would someone place that sign so low? No one could
read it."
You see them everywhere. Small signs promoting yard
sales, cars, and business opportunities are posted
on poles and lobbies of stores throughout the community.
So many, in fact, that they sometimes become a blur
defeating the sole purpose of getting your attention. Not this one. This one stood out because it appeared
to be a mistake.
I had just arrived at the local shopping center and
as I got out of my car I noticed a small sign taped
to the first pole. The reason I noticed it was because
it was taped to the very bottom of the pole.
At first I thought it had fallen, but at closer look
I saw it had been very securely attached with several
inches of masking tape. So much tape that it crossed
over the middle of the sign blocking out some of the
details. I had to look closer and to see what they were selling
and who would do such a silly thing.
"Ah, a house for sale. I guess this was an approach to
grab your attention," I said to a store clerk who was
apparently taking a break and enjoying the fresh spring
air.
"I don't think so," he replied.
"Well, why else would they have placed the sign way
down here?" I asked.
Then, pointing down the walkway, he said, "That little
girl is doing it. I just watched her and that lady hang
this one."
Stooping down, I glanced to where he was pointing and
indeed saw several more signs. Curiosity always gets the best of me and some of the
most incredible stories to share with my readers. This
one was sure to fall into that category. I slowly approached them and waited until the young
child wound another yard of tape around the last sign.
"Excuse me. I don't mean to be rude, but why are you
placing the house for sale signs so close to the
ground?" I asked.
The woman smiled and turned to me. "She's not selling
the house. Look closer," she said.
Again I stooped down adjusting my position until I
could finally read the small print. "We miss you!" I read out loud. I looked up and said,
"I don't get it! You miss the house?"
"Look closer," the woman replied. "Look at the picture."
Okay, now I am really on my hands and knees. People
passing by must have thought I was foolish.
"Do you see the child?" the woman asked.
"Yes, I do." I replied.
"Look to the left in front yard."
Now adjusting my glasses and squinting I said, "The
dog? Do you mean the dog?"
"Yes! Look at the very bottom of the sign."
Now this was a test for sure.
"I miss you! Come home!"
I miss you come home? I didn't understand. Fighting
to regain my dignity, I stood up. I must have had
that confused look on my face.
"Her dog is lost," the woman explained.
"Most people would hang a lost sign with a picture
of the dog on it. It would also be where people could
actually see it," I said with a chuckle.
"Well, you saw it," the young girl said.
Good point.
I found myself distracted for a moment. This child
had the most beautiful cherub-like face accented by
short curly blonde hair that danced with every
movement she made. Just seeing her sky blue eyes twinkle with the
innocence of her youthful spirit made me hesitate
to ask for further explanation.
Thankfully, the woman filled me in. "I explained to her that it may be hard to find her
dog. As you can see the store has many signs posted.
So she said that she had a better idea. She wanted her
dog to find her. Thus the picture of the house, her
and the dog," she said.
"And hanging them down there..."
"You got it. So the dog could see it," she said. Then motioning me aside the woman whispered, "It's
been missing a few days now. We really thought it
would be back already. I didn't want to give up until
she felt she did everything she could."
My heart ached for the child as I tried to think of
some way to help. "What a great idea!" I said to her. Then I stooped
down and said, "I will say a prayer. I'm going to give
your mom my phone number. Call me when you and your dog
are back together." I handed the woman one of my business cards. I had to
know how this ended. "By the way, what's your dog's
name in case I meet him in my travels?" I asked.
"It's a girl dog," the child said. "Her name is Grace."
I looked to the woman and she confirmed.
"Yes, we named her that because that's how we got her.
She was lost. 'Amazing Grace, I once was lost but now
I'm found, '" the woman said smiling.
One week later my phone rang. The little girl called
to tell me Grace came home.
Amazing!
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