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I like hugs2
“I like hugs” the button read. It hung there on his jacket oddly. Oddly. That’s how he looked to me when I first met him. His eyes sparkled bright with a jubilant joy.3
He wore a tattered blue baseball cap and an immensely infectious grin. I felt a little awkward but thought it must be my foolish pride. So I pushed aside my insecurities, and gave him a hug.4
Yep, right there in the supermarket; his mom’s eyes glistening with approval and the hug was returned twice as hard with all the fervor it intended. I flushed and grinned back at him, smiled at his mom, turned and walked on.5
I don’t know his handicap, didn’t think to ask. I could only guess at his age. He could have been my older brother. I do know I felt better for about week as I recalled that hug. I feel pretty good writing this now, telling you.6
How oddly cold we have become to rely on a button to ask for hugs. 7
~r.8
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all rights reserved10
© 2004 Richard Braley (astralshepherd) 11
(Copying without permission for non-personal use is forbidden)12
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Author notes
two years ago...
Stater Brother's Market
Yorba Linda, California
What did you think? Please comment!
Comments
1 - 15 of 15
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I had to come back and read this since you mentioned it in your IM. How odd that at this moment, the full impact just made tears stream down my cheek. This made me especially think of all those lonely elderly individuals, sitting in a care home somewhere, just praying that every time a door opens, it might possibly be someone who is just as anxious to see them as they are to see a familiar face and the warmth of hug from someone who cares enough to remember. Now on a more critical note... as if I could ever be too critical of your work... I did see perhaps an error in wording of that last paragraph. In the third sentence you have, "I do know I felt better for about week as I recalled that hug"... How many weeks? One? Two? Just curious.
Your work is always so polished so I thought I'd mention it. Hugs are meant to be shared... 
pass it along. 
♥ Touchof1derbeginning: 5, language: 5, plot: 5, ending: 5, dialog: 5, characters: 5.
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You never cease to amaze me. Just when I think you have outdone yourself with sharing of love and compassion, you show even more. I am so glad I read your short stories. IT has been to long since I have read your work any way, and because of my personal life and plights at the moment I think I was sent your way for love and inspiration. I just love you so much.
S♥m
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I think I could open the contest to very short stories
I know better than to read your work if I don't want a tear in my eye. ~Ag~
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I read this and a tear formed in my eye. I don't know if you know this, but I have a daughter who is "handicapped" (if that is the word we are using these days). Not much else for me to say, than thank you. Thank you for touching that mother's heart.
Cheryl
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Warm write.
Ah! HUGS! I once was confronted by a very cold and aggressive woman and to my own surprise, my arms opened almost automatically and ... she walked right into that hug! Amazing!
Thank you, Richard. You've hugged my soul.
Myra -
Hugs are like a miracle drug. They always seem to make people feel better after getting one. Even the giver of the hug feels better. I live in a very close knit community where hugs are very common place. When I walk into my dad's store, I never leave without at least 4 or 5 of them, and my day seems to go much better after that. I always try to give at least 3 hugs a day. My dad is the first on the list each day at lunch. Oh well, I have gotten all carried away with this story/comment. This story made me feel better. There is still that sparkle of human kindness in this world. Here is a hug from me to you .
becca
Edited on Aug 18, 3:05 p.m. because 'typo'. -
Richard, your depth astounds me yet again, you know each and every inch of yourself and can put a ticket on it so to speak. This poem touched me to the very heart, your ability to reach out and fight and understand the feelings inside and yes you are blessed by the touch by eradicating your fears your preconceptions.... we shouldn't have to ask for love/ for hugs, like you say the sad realisation of our society is that this is how it is.... what a beautiful story of how touch can bring so much joy both to the giver and the receiver, we are all one Richard we all need love,
you are an amazing sould Richard you truly truly are
Lisa xx -
Richard! This gave me chills all up and down my arms. Hugs> < to you!
Rene' -
Enjoyed this! I
's! So glad you gave one of yours that day (and remember it to this day). I read we need four hugs a day to stay healthy..I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who isn't getting their quota.
<3 Maureen
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You can feel the joy and tingle inside of you as you read this story. Very touching and inspiring.
And your right when you said 'how oddly cold we have become to rely on a button for hugs' For myself, after reading this, I want to go out and give hugs to everyone. Thank you for sharing such an awesome experience and lesson in "hugs are free" -
I like hugs too! Nothing in the world compares to the human touch. We all need it. We all crave it. The medical profession will tell that there are healing powers in the human touch and I for one am inclined to agree because I know what it does for me. This is beautiful Richard! Thank you for sharing it.
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Heavenly!
Beautiful, Richard Isn't it ironic that we, constrained by social convention and customs, should call such open hearted and uninhibited innocence "handicapped"! It is so true that we must "turn and become as a little child" to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Thank you for a delightful insight and reminder.
~ Gennelle
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Masterpiece
This is a magic moment that you have captured and memorialized for all to experience in all its glory and wonder, as if we ourselves had lived it. It has me captivated, and made me cry and laugh, and feel wonderfully, joyously, vulnerably human and very thankful for it. It's stunning artistically, Richard, and very moving from the human viewpoint. Thanks for the sheer joy of it and thanks for the big hug.
Edited on Aug 07, 7:34 p.m. because ''. -
~smiles~ this is a rather heart warming thing to read. i am sure you made him and his motehr very happy. although it is some what sad that such a thing would seem so random, things such as this are so infrequent now adays... thanks.
fallen. -
A delightful Read
Richard that was so very sweet and kind of you. They say a little hug can go a long way. or is it a little love. A hug, especially a hug from a stranger can do magic for the soul of the receiver. I know that he must have been so over joyed by your gesture for his hug was twice as hard with all the fervor it intended. His mom was pleased to, she must have know how much her son longed for that hug. Hugs are infectious. I loved this write Richard, thanks for sharing. Avril
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