The space between samurai

In which our Hero bows and takes his hand from his steel

The boy darted forward in a dancing sprint, around his mother and the sibling-laden carriage she pushed, and ahead to the door that she was just stopping at. He was so small, maybe 5, but he ducked to the other side of the door as it closed behind someone, and dug in his heels and backed that door open with steady determination.

His mother was dubious, but I moved into position and reached for the door, and she smiled at me and took that as a cue to go through. Which I would have done, but even as I was standing there to help them both through, I paused, once, and stayed my hand outstretched. The boy had the door, for his mother, for his family. I didn’t have to relieve him, only back him up, and I did.

A moment later, his mother was through and it was just he and I. “I’ve got it,” I told him, “Don’t worry.” He looked up at me, not just holding the door, but holding it back with the whole of his body. With the vast solemnity that comes upon a child in the presence of a stranger, he said, “That’s okay, you can go first.”

I paused a second time, because the door was heavy and I didn’t want him hurt, and because I’m the boss of 94.3% of all the children I meet and I don’t indulge where safety is at issue. But this was a moment, man-to-man, as sacred as the end of any action movie where someone stays behind to save the rest of the group.

I went through the door.

 

Log in to write a note
April 21, 2013

(And stopped on the other side of the door so I could hop back if the kid needed help in the end)

Awesome 🙂

Special moment! Thank you for recording it here.

April 21, 2013

I was going to record last week’s wedding the way you did a while back. But I think it’s too late. I enjoy your writing. The way you see little things.

April 21, 2013

<3

🙂

Wonderful! 🙂 You made him proud. 🙂 KT

April 22, 2013

Good one 🙂

well done.

April 24, 2013

You rock, Serin.

April 25, 2013

ryn: I officially give you permission. Her smile makes me feel like that, too–not just that she’s seeing into the soul, but that she’s delighted by what she finds there. =) I’m glad she brightens your day! Repayment for all the fun you gave me and mine with the Pronoun’s Log entries. *Grin*

April 25, 2013

*solemn bow followed by a high five*

April 25, 2013

ryn : you got RC-ed because those entries were so worth it being nominated. 😉

April 25, 2013

Hahaha good night 🙂

April 28, 2013

That was a Moment !!

June 17, 2013

Love it.