We had to replace you with an alternate, you know. Oh, and we won State without you." The girl didn't wait for a reply, she just flounced back to her friends, who were laughing and giggling as they placed their coffee orders. Amanda" acted like she hadn't heard any of the conversation, but as I watched; a tear slid slowly down her cheek and plopped onto the magazine she was reading. Silence seemed to fall over the entire coffee house as the girls took their coffees and left. It seemed like every eye was on the young girl with the stroller, watching for her reaction. I noticed an older couple in the corner eyeing her with anger or disgust. Dressed conservatively, they seemed to be angry with her for some reason. The woman leaned across the table, whispering something to the man, and they both picked up their newspapers and left. As they walked by the young girl's table, the woman made a point to look away and say just loud enough to be heard. "Shouldn't be seen in public." The girl winced, but didn't move. I knew their type. They walked outside, got into a new Lexus, and drove away. I noticed a bumper sticker on the car, "Community Baptist Church," 'See you this Sunday!'" as they stopped at a traffic light down the street. I shook my head, and wondered why people had to be so judgmental and officious.

I saw another young woman glance at the girl several times. She seemed to make a decision in her mind, and then she stood, dug in her purse for something, and walked to the girl's table. She leaned over and said something. The girl nodded ever so slightly, and the woman sat down. She leaned toward the girl,...

The girl never said a word, just looked at the woman with dark eyes, and watched as she stood and walked away. The girl opened her hand, and shook out a twenty-dollar bill and a business card. Starting like she'd burned her hand on a hot stove, she picked up the twenty with her thumb and forefinger, as if it was tainted, then stood, walked to the counter, and dropped the bill in the tip jar. I wanted to stand up and cheer for her, and I almost did.
Then she returned to the table, picked up her stuff, and slowly wheeled the baby out of the coffee house. No one helped her with the door this time, but she managed. I watched her walk down the sidewalk the way she had come. I stopped taking notes and thought about what I'd seen. One girl elicited three very different responses just from her persona and her appearance. She was pitied, hated, and admired by three different groups of people, and it made me think about humanity, and how perspectives can cloud everything, from common sense to judgments and commitments. Somehow, I knew that young girl and her baby would survive and thrive, despite the perspectives of those around her.