Captain George Wilson could not believe his rotten luck. The jeep he was riding in overheated and came to an abrupt stop right on the outskirts of Baghdad. He ordered the soldiers to secure the area and radio in their position for immediate retrieval. As he surveyed the area Captain Wilson noticed a vendor that had set up shop in the area. He wondered why a vendor would be all alone in an area such as this, that had no one around to sell to.
“Lamps for sale, lamps for sale,”the vendor yelled from his little makeshift shop. “Pardon me Captain, how would you like to buy a lamp? It makes a great gift for a a young girl's birthday, and my prices cannot be beat because they are very cheap! Browse through my merchandise, I have every kind of lamp you can imagine. I am sure I have something you will like.”
“Why would you set up shop so far from the rest of the vendors in town?” Captain Wilson asked the vendor.
“I do not have any competition here. My customers are those entering and leaving this great city,” the vendor said with his arms wide open.”
“I guess that is one way of looking at it.”
Reflecting on the vendor's choice of words, Captain Wilson found it strange that the vendor would mention a young girl's birthday, after all he were on the lookout for a gift for his daughter's birthday. Ignoring the weird vibe he was getting from the vendor, Captain Wilson looks over the merchandise anyway. There were many fine lamps, but he did not see any that really caught his eye.
“I'm sorry, I don't see anything that my daughter would like,” said Captain Wilson..
The vendor taps his upper lip with his index finger repeatedly thinking of something to offer the Captain. He reached in an old footlocker and pulled out something wrapped in many colorful women veils. The vendor removed the veils and presented a different lamp to Captain Wilson.
“Do you think she would like this one?” the vendor said as he pulled out a beautiful
oil lamp that radiated in the sun light. “This is my rarest lamp that I have in my collection and since it's for your daughter's birthday, you can have it for free.”
“You are going to give this to me for free! What's your game mister, no one gives away free merchandise to a total stranger?”
“I am serious Captain. It's yours free of charge.”
“Well, I guess I should say thank you my friend. Forgive me of my suspicious nature, but you know the old saying about things being too good to be true,” Captain Wilson replied.
“Do not worry Captain, sometimes a free gift is just a free gift. I know your daughter will love this lamp.”
“Sir our ride is here,” the Sergeant said as he came running up to Captain Wilson from the road.
“Thank you Sergeant, let me thank the vendor again for this beautiful lamp, and we will be off.”
“What vendor are you referring to sir?”
“I think the heat is getting to you Sergeant. There is a lamp vendor right behind me over there.”
Captain Wilson pointed to the location of the vendor. The entire shop vanished. The vendor and his shop had simply disappeared.
“Are you OK sir?” the Sergeant asked.
“I'm fine Sergeant, let's get out of here before I start seeing leprechauns.
“Right this way Captain,” the Sergeant smiled.
Captain Wilson had no explanation to what just happened. He knew that he did not imagine the whole thing because he had the lamp to prove it.
“What just happen here? Am I going crazy? How did that vendor know I was shopping for my daughter?”
These were the questions that kept running through Captain Wilson's mind, but answers were few and far between The rocks and bottles thrown by angry citizens hitting the jeep brought him back to reality. Captain Wilson counted the days when he would go back home to be with his family. At least there, he knew he was loved.