"What's your story?!"
You always knew when Nate Sullivan was in the building...that raspy, boisterous laugh had a way of drawing people into his world of
sunshine even on a rainy day.
He'd greet everyone with the same line, "What's your story?" And he meant it! Ever try to answer a question like that? I enjoyed watched this serious question pierce through people's carefully installed barriers. He'd make you think about your life. I was often in awe of how Nate affected people, how he would somehow know exactly what to say to turn them into human beings again.
Even his feet had soul. That man could s-l-i-d-e and shimmy across the floor making the rubber soles of his shoes sing along. I was convinced he was a magical creature sent by heaven to raise the bar.
Finally after years of trying to answer his question, "What's your story?" I turned it around on him. "Nate, what's your story?"
Nate got a little choked up that day. This question stirred his own soul. I saw the wheels carefully turning in his mind and an occasional nod in agreement to the voice inside. Then I watched as the question became a sure answer in his teary eyes, "Kindness. Yep, that's my story and I'm sticking to it!" He shook off his tears and chuckled again, nudging me with his elbow to tell him my story again. "I'll be back tomorrow....think about it!" as he waved goodbye.
I never saw Nate again after this day. He passed away in his sleep that night at the ripe old age of 79.
This is my entry to 
@mariannewest/day-1210-5-minute-freewrite-friday-prompt-rubber-soles
