To America

January 26, 2026

To America,

It is 3:30 pm in Louisville, Kentucky.  There is 6” of snow on the ground with 12 degree

temperature outside.  A blaze of sunshine brightens the bitter cold.

In the last two weeks the lights went out for Renee Nicole Goode and Alex Pretti.  During protests

in Minneapolis they were killed by American ICE agents.

But on my front porch an enterprising young man of about ten years old stopped by to ask if I need

the snow shoveled from my sidewalk.  He very politely asked for $25.00 for the task.  I don’t carry much cash these days, so I said I could not afford this.  I thanked him for offering to help in this weather.

He was half way back down the sidewalk as I was shutting the door, when he returned to ask if he could shovel the snow anyway.  I was a bit flummoxed, but said a small path to the street would be nice.

I started looking for what change I might find for him in my piggy bank and gathered $7.00 in change

to put in an envelope.  I returned to my front door with my dog and raced outside to give him my gleanings. He took the envelope but was more interested in my friendly labradoodle dancing around his feet.  From my front door I watched them play for a few moments, when this young man turned back to me and gave the envelope back.  I was surprised!  I asked if he was sure, but this opened face  young man said that I should keep it.

As I closed the door, I rushed around inside to see if I had something a 78 year old woman might have

to gift to this young one.  I found a small plush toy fox that I was sure would be too young for him, but since he had liked my furry dog, perhaps…

When I got back to my door, the sidewalk was clear, and my young cavalier was gone.   I looked up

and down the street, but he had vanished.

His gift to me was far greater than he knew.  I found myself in tears for I was sure if ICE agents had

been on my street today, this young man might have been a target.  l don’t know his name, but I hope

and pray that angels and my fellow Americans are watching over him.

Let us find our better angels,

Brenda Kiefer