"Hi, I'm Sparkles." 

She was not your typical circus clown. She spoke like a kindergarten teacher and her costume wasn't very flashy. Her naturally pale face was free of the expected oily paint. A small red paper heart was stuck to the end of her nose.

I smiled politely, even though I had never liked clowns very much.

"What's your name?" she asked.

I paused. I always paused. My pauses were legendary. "Derek," I said clearly. I was having a good day, and Sparkles seemed strange, but safe.

"It's nice to meet you Derek," she said, and her grin widened. She extended her hand and I shook it gently because it felt small and she was older.

"Nice to meet you too," I mumbled. This was getting awkward.

She dug around in the pocket of her smock and pulled out a roll of stickers. I couldn't see exactly what they had printed on them. "I just wanted to tell you that you are special. Did you know that?" She peeled a sticker off the roll as she spoke and pressed it to my shirt.

I knew I was special if special meant different, but in my case, different wasn't good. I turned back to the rack of clothes behind me and continued my search.

Thankfully, she moved on to her next custmer. I could hear her having pretty much the same conversation with an elderly man in the next aisle. Maybe everyone in the store was special according to Sparkles.

When I first arrived, I saw that the store was having a one-year anniversary event. Sparkles was the main attraction. A platter full of crumbs on a table up front led me to believe that there had also been refreshments. Pretty weird, but I was there for just one purpose: to find a suitable shirt to go job-hunting in.

I pulled out a blue polo and inspected it. No stains, no rips, and it was my size... the three musts for shopping at a thrift store. The tag said two dollars, which was about all my budget could handle. I could have asked my mom or dad for the money, and they gladly would have given it. My mom would have liked to take me shopping. But I wanted to handle this on my own.

In the dressing room, I saw the reflection of my sticker. It had a stupid little green frog on it and it said, 'I am special.'

I quickly pulled off my t-shirt and tried on the polo. I liked the color, and thought of how my mom would approve. She said royal blue looked good on me. I had to admit, it looked nice against my dark brown skin.

I had khakis at home to go with it, and dress shoes. My hair was cut neat and low so I would look the part of a professional. But would I sound the part?

I paid the cashier, a blonde girl that I had seen around school but didn't really know. I had just finished my junior year of high school. I thought maybe she was in a lower grade. She gave me my change and told me to have a nice day.

Sparkles waved at me from the dish section as I neared the door to leave. I nodded at the clown lady and headed back into the heat of the Georgia summer afternoon.