I did something on the way to work this morning, that while it had, in the event, no consequences, was distinctly out of character for risk-averse me, and could have got me into a pile of unnecessary trouble if things had gone differently. I was waiting for a bus not very far from home, when a mother and son approached. He was very much a little boy, only 4 or 5, and of South Asian extraction, and, as he came nearer, it was glaringly obvious that he wasn't at all happy with life. He was trailing along beside the woman with his head down, while she was effectively ignoring him, her head buried in her phone. Just before he drew level with me, he looked up, and his big, dark eyes were so sad that my heart couldn't help but go out to him. I mouthed 'Cheer up' at him, and gave him a little smile. His eyes went down, then up again, still looking heartbreakingly unhappy, at which point the mad impulse kicked in - I blew him a kiss. He seemed completely nonplussed, looked away again, but, in the next minute, as he went on his way and out of sight, he must have looked back at me half a dozen times. Mum, of course, was completely oblivious, still totally focused on her phone, but I immediately realised that, had she seen the interaction, such as it was, she would've been screaming 'Paedo!' at the top of her voice. And it would've been such a ridiculous way to have been 'outed', he was much too young, even for my tastes, and not really that cute (with profound apologies to the little guy). I've always known I've had a self-destructive streak, but it doesn't usually surface quite so stupidly.
Love & best wishes to all
Sammy B
Love & best wishes to all
Sammy B
She could have, but you would have said you were just cheering him up...have a nice day!
ReplyDeletePeace <3
Jay
Hello Jay
DeleteI don't think I'd have got very far using that argument to the police, somehow. I got glared at on the tube last night for looking in the direction of a boy who I didn't even know was there at the time. That's about where we've descended to in the hysteria race - even an inadvertent glance makes you a 'predator'. I'd be off this planet in a heartbeat, if there were ways and means of doing so.
Love & best wishes
Sammy B
It breaks my heart to hear such stories, or see situations like this.
ReplyDeleteWhat always hits me hard is the realisation of how powerless we've become as a result of the hysteria that prevails nowadays. In many ways we've become almost as vunerable as those who's suffering apparently only folks like us seem to notice anymore. I hate having to avoid eye contact, and much worse, deliberately look the other way. So much for progress in these so-called "enlightened" times.
Warmest regards - Dave
Hello Dave
DeleteAs you say, the need to avoid the least interaction with boys, because of other people's perceptions, is one of the biggest frustrations we face. OK, I'm sexually attracted to (some) boys, but, just as much, I love their company, the joie de vivre, the sense of fun and mischief many of them exude, the sheer boyishness of them, if that's not a circular argument, and having to pretend they're invisible and intangible is, as you suggest, heartbreaking.
Love & best wishes
Sammy B