Sandy

She walked in my office Thurday afternoon, wearing a flipflop on her left foot, and several plastic bags on the right. Her face shrunk and wrinkled more than last time I saw her on her first day out of jail. The bruise on her chin almost fated.

She asked me if I had a moment, sat down, and started to catch up on her breath. "Xuan, oh dear, it it so embarrassing" she said, and after repeating it a few times, I started to fear that she might ask me for money. Then she told me she had been living on the street for a couple of days, and asked how much she had in her account. I took a look in the computer, and told her there was only $19 left. She broke into tears. "Nineteen dollars, nineteen dollar?" She said the words repetitively, her tome changed from incredulity to disapointment, and to self-pity. I understand the change, because I know she used to be a doctors wife, wearing nice clothes and travelling abroad. Her ex-husband still gives her over $3000 marital support every month, and she had over $8,000 a month ago when she just got out of jail.

She complimented my shoes, and asked me to take out all she has. I checked her recent transactions and saw many cash withdrawl amount to hundred of dollars a time. I asked if someone was taking advantage of her, she denied it. Margie also suspect that the black man she came to the branch with is sure not her "friend". I could smell the sweetness of alcohol from her, and I went to Margie to check if I could carry out her request, which is usually should be done at the tellers' wicket. We consulted Karen, and since the amount is so small, we decided to give it to her.

Before she left, I took a bar out of my drawer and offerred it to her. I told her I ususally take a bar during this time in the afternoon, and she might need one too. I didn't want to embarrass her again, but my face couldn't stop from getting hot. She knew and she said I was blushing, and thanked me. We hugged, and I felt her bony body so fragile. I asked her to take good care of herself. She walked away, probably continuing her life of drugs, alcohol and prostitution.

Everyone in the branch regard her situation as a sin, but only Sandy can get herself out of it.