On The Way To School

I love watching the people that walk their kids to school.

There is one woman who must work, because she is always dressed very nicely with shoes with heels, and she walks her son to school. They are long huggers, standing by the gate saying goodbye with a long long hug. She turns to walk home, and he always looks back twice, sometimes three times. "Bye Mom!" or "I love you, Mom!" He's so sweet.

There is a man who walks his two sons to school. He wears a t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers everyday. He must work at home, or be the elusive SAHD (stay at home dad). He has kind eyes, and is always telling his sons to move over, to watch out for other people, to be polite. I'm sure his wife and I would hit it off right away.

There is a little girl who I was worried about her weight, until I saw her grandma walking her to school. They are exactly the same - bodies shaped like barrels, with small skinny legs. They are sweet to watch, because they are two of a kind.

There is a little girl who is walked to school by her mother and grandmother, one on each side, both holding her hands and dreading the moment that they must say goodbye to her, but smiling and putting on a cheerful attitude for the girl, who seems to love school. I wonder about their story.

There are two kids, a brother and sister, who live in an apartment across the street from our neighborhood. I know they must have it tough, because they told me one day that they have lived in a shelter. I used to worry about them, because they walk to school alone, and they look like they rolled out of bed and threw some clothes on. But one day after school, I saw the boy with his mother, and his face broke out into a smile when he saw her, and she ran to give him a huge hug. Their love for each other is strong. I don't worry about them anymore. Their mother loves them.

I could go on and on. The crossing guard. The young mom with three kids who seems way too skinny and tired, carrying her newborn. The coffee mugs and sweat suit moms. The dads on their way to work, dressed in shirts and ties and often already on their phones. I love watching them and wondering about their lives.

I wonder who watches me.