May 05, 2006
Grateful
I met the twins at Logan airport in Boston.
I was waiting for a flight to London and sketching in my journal.
They were playing nearby.
One of the kids had a wind-up toy car, which got away from him and I stopped it with my foot.
He thanked me.
We got talking. The boy looked at my journal and called his twin and his mum over. They had not seen what they called 'real' drawings before.
My journal was just a cheap blank book. And even though there were only a handful of drawings in it, the kids fawned all over the pages.
"How did you do these?" asked one of the kids in a thick African accent. "They are so nice. I could not do this."
"Oh yes you could," I said, smiling. "It just takes practice."
I showed them how to draw a cartoon face.
They were delighted.
I could see it in their dancing eyes.
The kids lived in Florida but had come to America eighteen months before as refugees from Eritrea.
"What do you like most about America? I asked them.
"You turn on the tap and water comes out," said one, giggling.
"You open the fridge and there is food in it," said the other, hiding behind his hand.
"You go to the petrol station and they have petrol."
"You ask a policman for help and he doesn't hit you."
"You don't have to walk down to the river to wash your clothes."
"You don't have to sleep on the floor."
They kept on coming up with things that I take for granted on a daily basis.
As they left to board their flight, I gave them my journal and asked them to promise me they'd write and draw the things they are grateful for in it.
They were thrilled. "Ok," they both said, together.
I waved goodbye as they left to board their plane. The kids kept on turning and waving at me until they disappeared through the door.
Meeting them was a great gift.
It made me realize how little I have suffered in my life.
Sometimes I forget how fortunate and blessed I really am.
Posted by trevor at May 5, 2006 10:28 AM
Comments
I like it. So heartfelt-- I can almost hear you telling this.
Posted by: Anne at May 6, 2006 09:22 PM
This is the first blog I have ever read. One co-worker suggested it as she was taken by the studio cat; another co-worker loved Ringer's story. For me, it was Grateful.
I am overjoyed that you gave those children your sketchbook. I hope that one day a beautiful sketch will come back to you from them.
It happens, you know.
For the moment, please receive my thanks for the gift you have just given me with your story.
Phyllis
Posted by: phyllis williams at May 17, 2006 11:08 AM