THE GIRL IN THE PINK DRESS

There was this little girl sitting by herself in the park.
Everyone passed by her and never stopped to see why she
looked so sad. Dressed in a worn pink dress, barefoot and
dirty, the girl just sat and watched the people go by.
She never tried to speak. She never said a word.
Many people passed by her, but no one would stop.

The next day I decided to go back to the park in
curiosity to see if the little girl would still be there.
Yes, she was there, right in the very spot where she was
yesterday, and still with the same sad look in her eyes.

Today I was to make my own move and walk over to the
little girl. For as we all know, a park full of strange
people is not a place for young children to play alone.
As I got closer I could see the back of the little girl's
dress was grotesquely shaped. I figured that was the
reason people just passed by and made no effort to speak
to her.

As I got closer, the little girl lowered her eyes slightly
to avoid my intent stare. As I approached her, I could see
the shape of her back more clearly.  She was grotesquely
shaped in a humped-over form.

I smiled to let her know it was OK; I was there to help,
to talk. I sat down beside her and opened with a simple,
"Hello."  The little girl acted shocked,
and stammered a "hi," after a long stare into my eyes. I
smiled and she shyly smiled back.

We talked until darkness fell and the park was completely
empty. I asked the girl why she was so sad. 
The little girl looked at me with a sad face said,
"Because I'm different." I immediately said,
"That you are!" and smiled. The little girl acted
even sadder and said, "I know."

"Little girl," I said, "you remind me of an angel,
sweet and innocent." She looked at me and smiled,
then slowly she got to her feet and said,"Really?"

"Yes, you're like a little Guardian Angel sent
to watch over all those people walking by."
She nodded her head yes, and smiled. With that
she opened the back of her pink dress and
allowed her wings to spread, then she said
"I am. I'm your Guardian Angel," with a twinkle
in her eye. I was speechless -- sure I was
seeing things.

She said, "For once you thought of someone
other than yourself. My job here is done."

I got to my feet and said, "Wait, why did
no one stop to help an angel?"
She looked at me, smiled, and said,
"You are the only one that could
see me," and then she was gone. And with that,
my life was changed dramatically. So, when you
think you're all you have, remember, your
angel is always watching over you.