A Child's Trust

“Don’t talk to strangers!” is the current mantra that we teach children everywhere. I imagine that to be even more true so in a city the size of Miami where children face all kinds of characters every breathing moment. So what happened to me at a mall in North Miami Beach was a little surprising, and heartwarming.

Like every other warm-blooded American, Belinda and I were doing our part to help the economy at a mall near us on the day after Thanksgivings. We had done our share of touching every piece of clothing in several racks at a discount clothing store and by this time my AARP body was running low in batteries. When it comes to shopping, Belinda can go on and on like the energizing bunny, but even knowing that I was doing my civic duty, I just needed a break. At the time we were in a second story of the multi-level mall and I stepped out of the store to check out the scenery on the balcony overlooking the inside court.

Amongst everything that was going on, I noticed a mother struggling with her two young children as she was trying to round them up to the down escalator. The thought of being trampled by the jaws of the moving beltway must not have gone easily for the young boy and he was not ready to go along without a fight. The young mother struggled to keep him and his older sister within sight but couldn’t keep both at arm’s length. The boy became free and in control of his own destiny, at least he must have thought so. With his newly acquired freedom he boldly stepped away from his Mom and from the jaws of the long and winding dragon, I mean, the escalator . Frustrated, the Mom also stepped away to allow others on the escalator and to come up with a new strategy to get all three of them downstairs safely.

In a split second, the boy was also looking for an alternate strategy. He scanned his surroundings and our eyes locked. As if on cue, he pointed at me with his index finger, and I knew exactly what he wanted. I extended my hand and we walked towards each other. He held my hand tightly and I walked him towards the escalator ramp. Down we went without a glitch. Not a word was exchanged but we both knew what was going on. He felt safe, I felt useful. The Mom followed behind with sister and we all made it to the bottom safely.

Once below, the boy loosened my grip and joined Mom once again. Smiles were exchanged and I walked around to find my way back upstairs. From the corner of my eyes, I kept watching as the family reached the mall exit and were soon out of sight. I don’t know what this boy saw in me versus anybody else, but it made me proud that I could help him and proud that he felt I could have his trust.

I hope he’s never disappointed.

Note: The pictures have nothing to do with those children at the mall. They are of a couple of resident-kids in our building.