1. Saturday Morning in Maplewood
Every Saturday morning, Grandma May set up her small stand at the Maplewood Farmers’ Market, just outside Dallas. Her folding table was always the same — covered with a checkered cloth, two baskets of brown and white eggs neatly lined up, and a hand-painted sign that said:
“Fresh Farm Eggs – $4 a dozen.”
“Fresh eggs! Straight from my backyard hens!” she called out in her warm Southern accent.
A young woman stopped by, smiling as she handed over a few dollars.
“God bless you, ma’am. These are the best in town,” she said before walking off with her tote bag.
May’s face softened. “Thank you, sweetheart. You have a blessed day now.”
2. Trouble at the Stand
Not long after, Ricky Malone showed up — a twenty-something kid everyone in town knew. No job, always hanging around, trying to act tough.
He swaggered up to May’s table, chewing gum and grinning.
“Hey, old lady, how about you give me those eggs for half price?”
May looked up, still polite. “Honey, I’m already barely covering feed costs.”
Ricky snorted. “Then I guess I’ll just take ’em for free.”
“Please, don’t do this,” May said softly, her voice trembling. “My husband’s sick at home. I just need to make enough for his medicine.”
But Ricky wasn’t listening. With one quick motion, he grabbed a basket and slammed it onto the pavement. The eggs burst open, yolks spreading across the concrete like spilled paint.
“Oh, Lord have mercy…” May gasped, clutching her apron. “I worked so hard for those.”
3. The Man in the Suit
Before anyone could react, a black SUV pulled up near the curb. A man stepped out — tall, in a tailored navy suit, crisp white shirt, polished shoes. The kind of man who clearly didn’t belong at a small-town market.