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I must look rather friendly. Or at least non-threatening.
I was riding the subway last weekend. I noticed a little girl (maybe 5 or 6) wearing a bright pink coat. She was tugging at her mom’s sleeve and looking at me. Her mom bent down down and the little girl whispered something. The mom nodded and the little girl came over to me.
“Hi,” she said.
“Hello,” I replied.
She grinned and walked back to her mom. A moment later, she was back. The little girl and her mom were getting ready to get off the train. Holding her mom’s hand, the girl grinned at me again and took my hand. I blinked. I looked at the mom, who shrugged and looked away. I couldn’t help but think what an odd little temporary family we must appear to be. It lasted a few minutes (until the next stop), then she let go of my hand and got off the train.
Something similar happened to me in the store today. I was shopping this evening when a boy of about eight walked up to me and took my shopping list. He wasn’t particularly rude about it; he just took it. He studied it for a little while, returned it, and then disappeared. I was perplexed, but continued with browsing. He was back a few minutes later with a stapler, which was on my list. He examined my list again and left. This time he returned with tape. He got stuck at the pencil sharpener. He asked me what it was and I showed him. He disappeared again. He came back witha pencil and paper. He took my list and crouched on the floor, carefully copying the words “pencil sharpener.” He returned my list, thanked me, and went on his way. And that was that.
Odd, but kind of nice.
