I Guess I Can Cross THAT Off the Bucket List...
I heard him before I saw him. I was standing in the far aisle of the Second Hand Bookstore, hoping against hope that I'd find that cool book by Kathy Griffin (I didn't). Subconsciously, my brain registered 'little kid' and left it at that.
Then he ran around the corner, stopping short in front of me. He looked up at me, grinned, and reached out with both hands. Before my brain could register his intention, he was cupping my chest with his hands, squealing in joy and grinning from ear to ear.
His father ran around the corner just as I stepped back and said, "Well, hello! How are YOU?!" Daddy was clearly distressed; this sort of thing apparently happened a lot. I glanced at the little boy, then back at the dad. The son was clearly Autistic/"Special"/Non-Verbal and/or any other of myriad diagnoses. I clicked into Mom Mode and simply grinned at the Dad.
I laughed, and wished them both a Happy New Year. Then I turned around and walked into another aisle, leaving them to shop...and exhale.
Sometimes, giving strangers a break is a gift to everyone around.
Then he ran around the corner, stopping short in front of me. He looked up at me, grinned, and reached out with both hands. Before my brain could register his intention, he was cupping my chest with his hands, squealing in joy and grinning from ear to ear.
His father ran around the corner just as I stepped back and said, "Well, hello! How are YOU?!" Daddy was clearly distressed; this sort of thing apparently happened a lot. I glanced at the little boy, then back at the dad. The son was clearly Autistic/"Special"/Non-Verbal and/or any other of myriad diagnoses. I clicked into Mom Mode and simply grinned at the Dad.
I laughed, and wished them both a Happy New Year. Then I turned around and walked into another aisle, leaving them to shop...and exhale.
Sometimes, giving strangers a break is a gift to everyone around.
posted by rennratt at 2:31 PM
6 Comments:
OMG. How old was he? I shudder to think what might happen when he is older.
He was probably in the 5-8 range. He was not what I would consider in the 'age of accountability', though.
His father was so clearly horrified that I just needed to cut him some slack.
So.... you're saying I couldn't pull of that trick at the next bookstore I visit??? sigh...
Well, that's a fine how-de-do! Happy new year? ;-)
He's got good taste! :)
Hey, Renn!
You told me back in June to let you know when that TV commercial was done so that you could pass it along to those viral friends of yours. If you haven't received my comments update from that June post, here I is! I've embedded it into a post at far·ra·go. I hope you like it and that you'll pass it on!
Tiff! Biff! Go there, too!
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