Niala had a cup of hot chocolate in her right hand and a small bag of new clothes she had bought with some of the money the bank had paid her for helping out in the other. However, she paused a moment as she watched a frail old lady stand there at the cross walk up ahead. She looked like she wanted to cross, but wasn't quite sure how she was going to do so. She also was shaking slightly, like she might fall down, or like she was having trouble remaining standing. Niala frowned slightly and quickly shifted the things she was carrying around in her hands. She looped her bag over her left arm, and switched her hot chocolate to that hand; leaving her right completely free.
She switched her hat back on the right way, not wanting to come across as some sort of thug or whatever old people thought kids were who wore their baseball caps backwards and such, and then approached her; ensuring that the woman could see her so she didn't startle the poor woman.
As she reached her she put a small polite smile on her face. "Excuse me, ma'am. But, do you need help crossing?", she asked as she nodded her head in the direction of the busy street. It might have been out of her way, given that she needed to cross in the other direction, but she wasn't going to leave the woman to stand there all day long; and no one else around seemed like they were interested in helping her.
The old woman looked at her and smiled. "Yes child, I do. I'd greatly appreciate some help." The woman's voice was soft, grandmotherly as she spoke, and she offered a shaking arm to the child after she finished speaking.
Niala smiled gently and nodded, hooking her arm gently into the old woman's; keeping her grip tight enough to offer the woman support while loose enough so that she didn't accidentally hurt her. She then looked to the cross walk sign and waited along with the woman for the walking man to appear lit up green; indicating they could cross.
"You know, most young kids don't bother helping us old folks across the road and such anymore. Everyone always seems to be in too much of a rush to offer such a kindness.", the old woman said as they began to cross, using Niala as support as she shakily walked her way across.
Niala glanced up and down, making sure that no cars were speeding to fast to stop even though their light was red as she continued to guide the woman across. At her words she glanced up to the woman and shrugged lightly. "I suppose I just hope that perhaps when I'm older someone will return the kindness to me. Plus, you're support to help and respect your elders."
The old woman chuckled and nodded. "That you are child, that you are.", she said softly. She smiled more as they finally reached the other end of the crosswalk, both of her feet making it to the sidewalk. "Well, I want to thank you for showing such a kindness in a not so kind world anymore. What's your name, sweetie?"
"Niala, ma'am, and really, it's not a problem at all. I'm glad I could help."
The old woman was going to take no for an answer and began to dig around in her hand bag for a moment before pulling out two hundred credits and placing them into Niala's hand. "Nonsense child. Do good and you will be rewarded." She reached her hand over and patted Niala on the head. "Thank you again, child.", she said before she walked away, heading into the small diner that was on the corner to go meeting up with some the other elderly ladies that could be seen waiting through the diner's glass windows.
Niala watched the woman reach her seat and smiled before shoving the two hundred credits into her pocket and turning around, sipping her hot chocolate as she waited to cross back across the street to start heading on her way back home.
Word Count: 705 / 500
