"This is going to be fun," Nick says excitedly as he fidgets in the line for the high dive.
"This is going to be fun," repeats the teenage boy mimicking Nick's nasally, monotone voice.
After standing on the edge of the high dive for a minute or two Allie's nerves get the best of her and she inches her way back down the ladder. The same teenage boy says something about "stupid girl."
"Just ignore him," Nick says softly while patting her back.
"Just ignore him," mimics the boy meanly.
"Ah, leave him alone," mutters his punk looking friend.
When the boys turn comes he walks timidly to the edge of the board and pretends to be biting his nails in fear before doing a flip into the safe blue water below.
The hair on the back of my neck began to bristle and for a moment I wanted to go CrAZy TOwN on the blond bully. Instead I began breathing slowly while considering my options: ignore, pummel, talk, find the kids mom . . .
Two hours later as their crew was packing up to leave I saw my chance. I caught the punk friend by himself for a moment and said "My son has a disability. Your friend was making fun of him and you asked him to stop. Thank you. That says a lot about you." He gave me a half grin and walked off to join the others.
Maybe he'll remember the gratitude of a mother
and maybe it will be just enough to help him say "stop it"
a little sooner next time.
P.S. Allie did go off the high dive
because she's brave like that.
They are both brave.
They are both brave.
3 comments:
you are a better woman than i am. i would have gone off on that kid. i'm so grateful for people like you...and nick. we can learn a lot from both of you!
I can't believe that some people do that! It's really sad. Thanks for both of your examples!
oh jod.....let's take our families and go live our lives trekking across wyoming. Jeni
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