Hardware
 

It was cold on the street. When I couldn't stand it anymore I went into a hardware store and pretended to look at the wall display. A customer asked a clerk in a blue smock, "Have you got a screwdriver with a range of different size heads?" As soon as he said it I saw the thing in my imagination--I saw how I would solve this particular design problem. When the clerk held up the actual item for approval, I peered over the customer's shoulder and gasped. The various heads all fit neatly into the hollow yellow handle--something I wouldn't have thought of in a million years. "Iíll take it" said the customer, a massive individual who stood between the clerk and me like a wall. "Me too!" I piped, standing on tiptoe and waving to catch the clerk's eye as he rang the purchase up. With impressive economy his scowl conveyed that I should be patient, heíd serve me in my turn. I had time to reflect on how fabulous the world was, with such marvels in it. Someone, a whole team perhaps, had gone to no little trouble to produce this tool, so useful, so thoughtful, so beautiful, with its mouth-watering amber handle. I could imagine its resinous warmth against my skin, the contrast with the tonic chill of its metal parts. "That's twelve-fifty, with tax" said the clerk. He was addressing me, the other customer had gone. I reached down and was delighted to find, just where I hoped to find it, a pocket in my pants. How useful, how thoughtful of the manufacturers to provide their pants with pockets! And lo, from that pocket I withdrew a wad of crumpled bills. Someone had filled the pocket with dollars! As Satchmo sang: what a wonderful world! But wait. When the bills were flattened out and added up, I was several dollars short. It was no use haggling with the clerk, I could see that at a glance. I went back out onto the street, determined to raise the extra $9.80 I needed to acquire the screwdriver, even if I had to beg from total strangers. Surely in a world as wonderful as this no one would begrudge a donation toward such a worthwhile cause.