A Walk At Lunchtime
Feb. 24th, 2009 01:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mbarkerJust a short sketch from life.
I usually walk home from work for lunch. It's a short walk across the parking lot, down the stairs, and around the bend into the university apartment buildings.
The other day, it had warmed up just a little for this time in winter. So as I made my way across the parking lot, I wasn't too surprised to see two parents and a child out for a walk, too. However, it was somewhat strange to see that the mother was standing at the top of the stairs, and the father was near her. They were both waving at the little boy, who was happily walking towards me, into the parking lot. He wasn't paying any attention to them.
I recognized him. I don't think he's ever talked to me, but he does wave goodbye to me occasionally. He's about three or four years old, with big black eyes. And he was determinedly walking along into the parking lot.
So as I walked past him, I waved toward his parents, and said, "Issho ni ikko, ne?" (Let's walk together). I slowed down a little, too.
He stopped. He seemed to think for a moment. And then he swung around, and walked beside me.
When we reached his father, he thanked me. And he reached down and took the boy's hand.
The boy raised his other hand and looked at me. So I stretched out my hand, and let him grab a finger.
We all walked over to the mother, who seemed a bit embarrassed. She apologized, even as she started to walk down the steps.
The boy took one step at a time. He held his father's hand and my finger, stretched out his left leg, and stepped down. Then he moved his right leg down to the step, and started the process again. His father and I kept pace.
At least a couple of times, his father and mother assured me that I didn't really have to help. But the little boy held that finger tight, so I just laughed and told them I wasn't in any hurry.
We walked together around the bend, past the playground, and into the university apartments. When we got to the stairway where they live, the boy let go.
And then he waved as I left. Bye-bye.
I have to admit, I chuckled to myself the rest of the way home. It was a nice walk at lunchtime, with my little friend. A little warmth in the middle of winter.
I usually walk home from work for lunch. It's a short walk across the parking lot, down the stairs, and around the bend into the university apartment buildings.
The other day, it had warmed up just a little for this time in winter. So as I made my way across the parking lot, I wasn't too surprised to see two parents and a child out for a walk, too. However, it was somewhat strange to see that the mother was standing at the top of the stairs, and the father was near her. They were both waving at the little boy, who was happily walking towards me, into the parking lot. He wasn't paying any attention to them.
I recognized him. I don't think he's ever talked to me, but he does wave goodbye to me occasionally. He's about three or four years old, with big black eyes. And he was determinedly walking along into the parking lot.
So as I walked past him, I waved toward his parents, and said, "Issho ni ikko, ne?" (Let's walk together). I slowed down a little, too.
He stopped. He seemed to think for a moment. And then he swung around, and walked beside me.
When we reached his father, he thanked me. And he reached down and took the boy's hand.
The boy raised his other hand and looked at me. So I stretched out my hand, and let him grab a finger.
We all walked over to the mother, who seemed a bit embarrassed. She apologized, even as she started to walk down the steps.
The boy took one step at a time. He held his father's hand and my finger, stretched out his left leg, and stepped down. Then he moved his right leg down to the step, and started the process again. His father and I kept pace.
At least a couple of times, his father and mother assured me that I didn't really have to help. But the little boy held that finger tight, so I just laughed and told them I wasn't in any hurry.
We walked together around the bend, past the playground, and into the university apartments. When we got to the stairway where they live, the boy let go.
And then he waved as I left. Bye-bye.
I have to admit, I chuckled to myself the rest of the way home. It was a nice walk at lunchtime, with my little friend. A little warmth in the middle of winter.
