Eliza was poor. Always was, as far as she could remember. The whole day she would go around the town selling chocolate, biscuits and toffee that she bought from the wholesale market.

And often at night she would work at the fish market, cleaning it up.

Whether it was summer, winter, or the rains, life was always the same for Eliza. Early mornings, haggling with the uncouth wholesaler and then walking all over the town, chasing the pretty-frocked girls and their guardians, pleading, goading and begging them to buy something.

All this work would have left anyone morose, but not her. Kind and helpful to all, unfortunately Eliza herself had not received much of kindness from life. Looking at her innocent face, always smiling, even when faced with the wholesaler, few could have actually guessed the extent of her loneliness or helplessness.

One day it rained particularly hard. People stayed indoors, drinking warm soup and curry. Her wares remained unsold. And days passed, there seemed to be no end to the rain. There was no use going to the fish market too. Every morning Eliza woke up hoping to see the sun shining. The sky remained dark and cloudy and she could only look at it hopelessly.

All her money had run out. And she gloomily wondered what to do. She survived by eating what food was still left with her, till all she had were two pieces of bread, stale and hard. That was on the fifth day.

In the afternoon she ate one of the pieces, keeping away the other for the night, though she was very hungry.

As she kept it away, someone knocked the door of her small, dark room. She opened it to see a little girl, pale and trembling.

?What is the matter? What do you need?? Eliza asked, full of concern for the fragile-looking girl standing there shivering.

?I am hungry. I have barely ben managing to eat for many days,? the girl managed to whimper. Eliza herself had nothing to eat, except that piece of bread tucked away saved for the night. But without any hesitation, she gave it to the girl. She thanked her and went away, while Eliza went to bed hungry that night.

The next morning when Eliza woke up, the sun was shining. It cheered up Eliza, who ran out gleefully.

But she knew she had a major problem. She needed money to buy the toffees and chocolates, which she could sell, and she had none.

?Please sir, I will pay back the money on selling the items, please for once give them to me,' she pleaded hard with the wholesaler. Uselessly, of course. He didn't budge at all. Dejected, she was walking away from the shop, when suddenly she saw the same girl who had come to her.

She still looked extremely pale. ?Can you give me some food?? the girl asked, bursting into tears. Eliza felt really sorry, but she was helpless. ?I would love to,? said Eliza, ?but I have nothing left.?

Eliza, too, began to cry at both their sorry fates. Under the clear sky, the two little girls wept, hungry and helpless.

Suddenly, the little girl put her arms around Eliza and comforted her.

?Look up there, someone will help. We are together,? she told Eliza and wiped her tears away. She said her name was Cherie.

?Come, I will show you something,? she said.

Laughing, with sudden carelessness, both the girls started to run, oblivious to their worries. They ran through the small alley, underneath the toll bridge into the square apartments that stands by the station.

Then, Cherie stopped suddenly before a dilapidated gate that revealed the most beautiful garden that Eliza had ever seen.

Eliza just stood and gasped at the lovely, colourful flowers.

?This tiny land belonged to my parents. This is all I have. I grow them,? she said, happiness and pride shining in her eyes.

?And I make lovely bouquets,? Eliza said, quietly. They stood looking at each other.

?You know what that means?? she asked. ?What?? Cherie asked, looking puzzled. ?It means we can be the flower girls! You grow them, and I will make bouquets and sell,? Eliza said, very excited.

Cherie was just looking at the flowers and Eliza. Puzzled, but so happy. Under the blue clear sky, the two girls were laughing loudly, leaving passers-by wondering what was happening. But only they knew the joy that a little act of kindness had brought.