From the moment she stepped out-- no, bounced out-- of the Deli, energy personified, I was drawn.
I was across the street. My work day had ended about an hour before and now, carrying grocery bags in one hand, a six pack of Bounty's Paper towels in the other, backpack on (living a double life as my sometimes oversized purse), I was awaiting the last leg of public transportation to take me home. If it wasn't for the bags, I would've walked the 30 minutes.
Seeing her across the street, I thought, if I had her energy, I would've walked the 30 minutes.
She looked to be around three years of age, had curly, black hair, and wore a purple top covered in patterned white flecks, over dark slacks.
She had exited the store with what I took to be a recent snack purchase-- its brown, sleeve-like wrapping, bringing to mind those that housed thin, flaky, buttery tasting crackers. She also moved about three steps quicker than the guardian who had most likely purchased the aforementioned snack.
Leading with the package in her right hand, she veered off in that direction until her guardian's comment had her swerving to the left. But before she could leave him behind again, he made another comment, and this time succeeded in pausing her in her tracks.
Although I couldn't hear him, I had a sense of what was going on. It was a warm, summer evening and he was an older gentleman whose physique currently leaned more towards that of Santa Claus. His demeanor appeared patient as he continued to speak, and while it was clear she was listening, she was also looking off into the distance, her tiny body fully facing the newly agreed upon direction.
He wanted her to hold his hand, and at the same time seemed to want it to appear as though it was her choice.
A few seconds passed. She offered him her left hand. They took about two steps. A few seconds later, she let go and tried to speed up.
Once again he stopped her with seemingly patient words. Suddenly, she smiles, surrenders her package, and breaks out into a run.
Package in hand, the guardian tears into the wrapping-- it looks like crackers or chips--, and at the same time calls out, that she needs to slow down.
When she gets to the end of the sidewalk, she turns and waits for him to catch up. Then with her hand again in his, crosses the street, before promptly freeing herself to resume running.
Watching her run, and silently cheering her energy and tenacity, I definitely had a moment of thinking, "Ah, youth!"
And then I found myself wondering if he had requested the snack as a ploy to get her to stay with him?
Well, whatever his intent, to my mind, they both got something out of it. She got what appeared to be what she had wanted all along-- to run and move about on her own terms. And although she may not have given in to staying with him, he got the snack 😜😉