The Pink Elephant

     Imagine the most annoying, painful, and uncomfortable sound you could think of- it’s probably similar to the sound fingernails make when scratched across a chalkboard. Or maybe it’s the piercing shriek of a fire drill ringing in your ears. Now imagine this noise penetrating your ears coming from a mentally retarded thirteen year old boy. Not so painful anymore? It’s more of a sorrowful and saddened sound that some may chose not to acknowledge or put off, but to a crowded beach he’s the pink elephant everyone makes invisible.

     This boy is the pinnacle of the literary pink elephant we read about. I don’t believe he is aware of this, but we are. I can’t help but feel bad towards this boy. Since I work everyday as a security guard on the beach, I am constantly aware of this boy and the sounds he harmonizes the beach with, alone, splashing carefree in the water as the crowds quietly and I believe, uncomfortably, gawk at him. Why can’t somebody go in the water with him? Why can’t someone play a simple game with him? However, perhaps in his own special world he is living the dream away from all of life’s stresses while splashing in the water screaming happily at the top of his lungs.

     Sometimes it’s almost as if the noises he makes are the only proof of his existence to others around him. I wish there was something I could do for this lonely boy trapped in an unacknowledged world of judgment, avoidance, and constant juvenile mockery. Although, maybe he isn’t trapped like I’m saying- maybe he is content the way he is and he doesn’t know any better. Maybe I’m wrong…

      I hope the time comes when this special boy looks back at his audience and laughs and judges them with a caddy look of irritation. Luckily, though, not all people are like this and those are the ones who look at this boy as a teenager, not a pink elephant.