there's a lot of good people out there

but

you need to pick them like ripened raspberries.

carefully

with three fingers, maybe four

to reach out

into the bushes

between thorny stems

past the smaller, greenish-white undeveloped fruit

and the darker, moldy ones

you close your fingers on it carefully 

because it might loosen its grip on you

and fall to the earth.

you roll and it pops

they're rarer and rather expensive 

especially when out of season

but come now 

there’s one over there.

can't see it?

look again

lower

oh not that low.

gotcha.

you place it into your basket

and it rolls around slowly 

showing off all it's red and juicy splendor.

it settles in one corner

where it comes to rest in a huddle with a few others

and that's good enough for you.

so how many have you gathered?

two, three, four, a hundred and four?

you're not making raspberry jam

that's too much sugar anyway.

a quick rinse

and a quick pat dry.

they're not dirty, just...etiquette.

a homemade, layered chocolate cake awaits on your kitchen table

and you nestle the berries into the frosting on top 

centered perfectly, one for each slice you're about to cut.

looks good.

there's a lot of good people out there

and you're grateful to have met even one of them.

now you're just waiting to hear the doorbell ring