Today as I hiked in the blazing sun across the sidewalks, accompanied by the huff and
puff of tiny dogs and the louder menace of the bigger beasts,
as I was exactly crossing the meaningless waste of a deserted shopping center,
a child (one of a group of three) greeted me.
I said hello back, and in a playful mood said, "and what did you learn in school today?"
The wise answer was: "Not to talk to strangers..."
To which I replied: "Good Idea. I should follow that policy too..."
Which elicited from said child a sarcastic reply...
Which led me to recall the last time an unknown child had spoken to me,
in Slovakia,
where the conventional way to address a male adult you don't know is as "Ujo"
or "Uncle"..
Much more friendly that...
but of course, this is not an especially friendly place.
I wondered, as I walked away, whether my garb (designed to keep off the sun)
or my carlessness had done it,
What was it that made this child think I deserved no respect?
Either way, it wasn't nice....
Thursday, April 15, 2010
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