I was at the post office the other day,
mailing off some letters,
waiting in line (patiently waiting),
when I see an elderly woman walk in.

Grey haired, wrinkled skin, hunched over, cane in hand,
walking, walking slowly, the world, run, run, running around her
at what must have seemed like to her, 1000 miles per hour.

She was having an some kind of issue with her post office box key,
i overheard, it wouldn't fit in her post office box,
and she wanted the postal worker to help her

They kind of shrugged her off like she was a senile old kook, snickering behind her back.

I finally got thru the line, and met the woman in the lobby by the post office boxes.

    "Ma'am, do you need help with your mailbox?" I asked, concerned.
    
    "They told me it should work now. They said there was mail blocking it."
    
    "Which one is it? Let's see if we can get it to open" I said,
taking the key, I inserted it, but it wouldn't work.
    
    "Are you sure this is the right box?
    
    "Yes", she said, "they said there was mail blocking it."

    "Then are you sure this is the right key? Look, i can insert it into any of these other boxes,
and it still won't turn. So its either the wrong box, or the wrong key."

I felt sorry for the woman.
I wondered if she understood.
She seemed disoriented, confused.

She took the key,
and brought it closer to her eyes,
examining it,
studying it,
realizing

    "I must have brought my husbands key by mistake. He's passed away..."

I didn't know what to say, I felt so bad for her.

    "I miss him so much..." she said, key in hand, rubbing it between her thumb and index finger.
    
    "I'm sorry." What was i supposed to say at that point?
    
    "Oh well," she said, "one day chicken, next day feathers. God bless you for trying to help me."