Clarity

clar⋅i⋅ty

 [klar-i-tee] 

–noun

1.	clearness or lucidity as to perception or understanding; freedom from indistinctness or ambiguity.

2.	the state or quality of being clear or transparent to the eye; pellucidity: the clarity of pure water.

Origin: 
1300–50; ME clarite < L clāritās (see clear, -ity ); r. ME clarte < MF < L as above

Synonyms:
1. intelligibility, exactness, simplicity.

The drive-thru

"How was your weekend?" I asked as we lazily collected money and took orders in drive-thru.


"I tried to kill myself," She said as she made a pop and handed it to me. "But don't tell any one. They just think I fell and knocked over a vase. The glass cut my hands as it shattered."


She shrugged. 




The tattooed rainbow on her arm hinted at the source of her agony---why society has rejected her. 


But I took the pop and handed it out the window. I wasn't meant for this--to  stop death. So I tell her it will be ok. I listened to what was not said. I told her not to do it again. She didn't. 


Sometimes I worked with another. 
"They called me Sha nay nay in jail," She laughed as her blonde hair bounced around in its ponytail. "Cause I was the baddest chick in there."


She then proceeds to say the line she learned in jail: you don't know me. you don't know where I come from. you dont' know nothin' bout me


And I don't. 


I just know that she cried every morning because her daughter might get taken away by her father whom she met just once. Her accidental marriage in Vegas resulted in a baby. 


Sometimes there was another one working with me. 


"I still work here, even though I'm fifty," she would say, trying to keep up with the pace of the cars lining up. 
"My husband and daughter don't appreciate me."


I wonder how much longer she can last. It seems each day she is slowing down. 


Then sometimes he was working.


"Ven aqui chica! Dame un beso."

His wife was in the other room. 


"Esta bien. It's just one kiss" I walk away. 


I never touched him, or wanted to. But his wife hates me. 


I walk back to my station. I stare at the rainbow tattoo wondering how that symbol of happiness causes her such pain. 

Happy

As I was sitting on the dock at NSC I looked over the lake and felt the warmth of the sun on my skin. I smiled. I was happy. As  I peered into the endless sky, I saw a single cloud drifting aimlessly.

It came closer and closer until it actually came down to me on the dock. It was large enough to stand on. As soon as I did, the soft billows gently lifted me into the air. I could see the lake more clearly now and I watched the green trees dance past me. Higher and higher I went until I was grazing other clouds. I lay down on the cloud and peered down at the world. The warmth of the sun baked my back.

Pretty soon I was seeing each continent. There was Australia....I miss it so much....and America suddenly didn't seem so big.

Stars started to dance past me and I plucked one out of the sky. It glowed and tingled in my hand. As I played with the star I barely noticed the cloud bringing me to my destination. A small looking planet.

As I landed in it's lush fields, I noticed a small path. I walked along touching the tall grass and feeling the warmth of a different sun.  Pretty soon a vast ocean came into view. the roar of it was nothing compared to the silent whispers of joy I felt tickling my ears. Up ahead I noticed a tree giving shade to someone sitting under it. At first I was scared...who could it be? But I realized the warmth of the sun wasn't coming from the sun. It was coming from the son.

Jesus? I whispered as I crept near the tree. He turned around and smiled. He wasn't black or white or Hispanic....he was just pure and radiant. And when I hugged him, I felt happier than I'd ever felt in my entire life.

"I'm so sorry---" I started as I realized how sinful I am. But suddenly, it didn't matter. Just staring at him made me whole. I was happy.

"But Jesus---What should I do about---?" I began
"Wait." He said. "Kelly I love you, what should you be worried about?"

We walked along a path....not even talking. I was just the creation enjoying my creator. We reached a fork in the road and he looked at me.

I'll never forget how it feels to hug my savior, the perfect lamb. As I walked back down the path I couldn't help but smile.

As the cloud drifted back down to earth, all the stars seemed like angels. Where I may land on this earth means nothing.

Jesus, I am happy