“That’s fine. I only need one or two. We can always make copies.”

            “But, copies aren’t the same. They should be originals.” Mary’s words cause him to pause. “Ahm....” She wants to add something but hesitates.

            He makes an interested expression with his eyes. “What were you going to say? Go ahead.”

            “Your mother will want two or three papers. You can sign these, too. For each person. Like a special thing.”

            He holds a hand to his chin for a moment, pondering Mary, or what she is saying. “You may have something there. I have a lot of relatives, though.” He points down to the stack of unsold papers, and smiles. “Have you been saving those for me all day?”

            The light changes and cars begin honking again for the man to get back in his car and go. More yelling occurs.

            “Here. I’ll take these.” The man puts a bill in Mary’s hand and grabs an armful of eight or nine papers, leaving the rest behind. “That should take care of everyone. You sure you’re all right?”

            “Yes. All right, thank you.”

            Mary watches him throw the papers in his car and drive away with a pleased look and a wave. “Get a big sign!” are his last words. Only then does she think of looking at the money he gave her. It is much more than the papers cost! Her mouth opens in a gasp.

            My God, her imagination climbs, maybe anything’s possible, selling fifteen papers each day like Judy said. Maybe someday without these terrible anxiety attacks or all the scary thoughts. A new treatment, it’s not impossible.

            Mary lies on the sidewalk, propped up by her two hands and still breathing hard, but only a trace of white shadow in the corner of her mouth, and her lips not moving anymore.

            She can go home now, she has enough sales and more money than she needs, so she gathers the remaining pile of newspapers and stands. But, instead of going home, she does something else that she has never done, holding the papers high over her head and walking back and forth among the throngs of pedestrians until she manages to say in a far, lost voice, “Get all the latest deadlines... Latest deadlines—I mean the latest head-lines, latest headlines—right here!” Correcting her mistake from “the latest deadlines” to “the latest headlines” triggers something inside where she accidentally raises her voice very loud, causing some people to stop and notice. One person immediately buys a paper. Then another.

            While making announcements Mary lets her big voice boom more and more, but instead of driving people away she is amazed to discover that people begin buying the extra newspapers right out of her hands almost as fast as she can change the money! And before long she doesn’t have a single one left for the first time on the job! She’s a natural at calling out for sales, and going forward she can’t wait to let her voice rip every day, converting that once-tragic flaw of hers into her single greatest gift to produce income and a purpose for herself, what a true lifesaver! No one could have dreamed of a better way to finish that day!

            Before long, Mary is a local favorite for her unique and powerful voice. “Get the news you need to stay ahead! Get all the latest head-lines, right here!”

            She also volunteers to do public service announcements for the handicapped and over time her resourcefulness and strong character make Mary an effective spokesperson for the disabled. She is also paid to do regular commercials for the newspaper and seems on her way to becoming a local legend. “Right here! Beat the deadlines and stay ahead!” she calls out. “All the latest news you need to stay ahead! The latest headlines!”

            In time Mary is sought after by the media for her valuable comments about issues of mental illness and she even becomes the subject of a network TV special, loving the attention and success and the blessed feeling that she always belongs right where she is.