There was a crush surrounding the table. Ruby and Sadie had managed to make it up to the front to both see and touch real fossils from a dinosaur hunt in Alberta that had led to the discovery of a whole new species of dinosaur. We'd just previewed an episode of a new television show Dino Hunt so everyone was excited to see in real life what they had just seen on the screen.
As is typical it was hard for me to get to the table as people simply stepped in front of the wheelchair, such is living in that weird state of being highly visible and completely invisible at the same time. But I'm used to this so I was just slowly inching my way forward, being careful not to hit either parent or child. It was as I was doing this that I noticed two girls, I'm not sure if they were friends or sisters, but whatever they were they looked to be the same age. One was blond, the other had dark hair, both were very thin and beautifully dressed.
The blond one noticed me and leaned forward to say something to the girl with dark hair, who glanced at me while the blond continued to whisper and laugh. The dark haired girl noticed me notice them looking at me and looked away quickly. She said something back to the blond girl and a tussle ensued. The blond girl grabbed the dark haired on by her shoulders and tried to force her to turn around towards me. She met unmovable resistance.
Giving up, knowing that she was not going to be successful, she grabbed her phone and held it up to take a picture of me. Not wanting to be a young teen's Internet sensation I began turning my chair around. Before I could do so, the dark hair girl stood in front of the camera, denying the shot. This little battle continued only for a few seconds more before they were both called away by a woman who had been standing further away talking to a friend.
I do not wish to comment on the behaviour of the blond kid.
I wish to comment on the behaviour of the dark haired child.
Her behaviour is so commendable that I don't have the emotional vocabulary to say what it meant to me. Further, her behaviour demonstrated the power of 'one' to stop, to interfere with, the power of a bully. She took her role seriously, she saw wrong and she acted.
This takes courage.
Real courage.
This is a child that has the potential to grow up an into someone who will make a difference. I know that because she already has.
4 comments:
This is absolutely beautiful. All of it: the writing, the moment, the girl, her courage, your reflection upon her actions. Everything. People can be so awesome.
Liz McL.
She is a noble creature . . . pray that nothing tries to destroy that in her!!
OMG Dave. I'm crying for you, wanting to slap the blond kid and hug the dark-haired kid.
I love wheelchairs because my son, Matthew loved then. He had CP and sometimes walking was just too much for him. He was a true "wheelie".
Donna Kirk
I am so happy to hear that the brunette girl was against what her blond friend was doing. It wasn't right and she recognized that. It gives me hope that there are more young girls like her. It takes a lot to stand up to a bully and to state what you think is right. What a strong young girl for showing that she believed what the blond was doing was wrong. I hope she continues to stand up for what she believes is right and wrong and doesn't let people bring her down for her beliefs. Its good to know there are still good people out there.
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