An Object Found In The Trash [FICTOID]

Water dripping off his ancient raincoat, the cobbler grumbled as he dug through the trash.

He’d thrown out a small scrap of umber colored leather the night before so of course today a customer walked in needing a repair that said piece of leather would be absolutely perfect for.

“This is stupid,” the cobbler told himself.  “It would be easier just to cut a piece from the existing roll.”

But the cobbler hated to do that.  Cutting into a new roll meant he couldn’t return it to the supplier, and with fewer and fewer people seeking his services, it was no imaginary concern to worry about refunds on unused merchandise.

The storm let up and a ray of sunshine lit the trash cans in the alley.  All the merchants on the block put their cans in one place, and while the cobbler was 99% sure he threw the piece in his can, the 1% told him it might have been another can.

He peered into the tops of the other cans, and as he did, he discovered the corpse.

He recognized the body immediately, of course:  An old wino who haunted the alley.  The last time the cobbler saw him was two days ago, eating unleavened bread thrown out by the neighborhood synagogue and stale toffees discarded by the candy shop.

The dead wino’s eyes remained open and staring ahead, water dripping into them.

No doubt he’s dead, the cobbler thought, but he knew he needed to check, if only as one last gesture of humanity.

He reached into the wino’s coat to feel for a heartbeat and found a small box.  Opening it, he saw it was a medal for bravery – 

-- from the Waffen SS.

The cobbler frowned and returned the box, wiping his hands off as he did.

He’d call 911 and report what he found.  The dead man may have once been an enemy, but death reclaimed him for humanity. 

© Buzz Dixon