We've been having 'taggers' in our little neighborhood lately. I'm forever calling in the graffiti police to clean as soon as I spot anything when the pups and I walk....
We live in an older neighborhood and we love it. We do not want to see it ravaged by tagging or bad activity, so we're pretty diligent...and we live close to a park..one for summer concerts, kids swinging and a safe zone to sit and watch the kids play..
We want it to stay that way..
So when we arrived back home from dinner, we spotted a teen-aged kid, pants at half-mast, hat cockeyed on his head..in the street writing something on the pavement.
We watched for a minute and Mr. B said.."Hey, whatcha doin' young man?"
He stood up and yanked at his pants..but just didn't answer.
Mr. B asked again, a little more powerful this time..."What are you doing there?"
"Nothin'..just writing - it's chalk.."
"Why don't you write on your own street?" I could hear the anger in Mr. B's voice, and he can be impressivly stern...
"It's just chalk, man.."
There was something about his lack of concern..or lack of understanding..or lack of further explanation that kinda bothered us.
The kid
When he came back in he said the kid apparently was writing 'directions' to a girlfriend with arrows directing her to him at the park..
Mr.B hooked up the pups for their evening walk and headed out..
When they arrived back home, he told me he went to the park to find the kid. He was now with his girlfriend when Mr. B approached.
The kid looked hesitant..the girlfriend looked embarrassed.
Mr. B said " I may have overreacted back there.." and went on to explain we've seen some tagging in the area and we were concerned.
He then said, "When I was young and had a girlfriend I was trying to impress, I did some pretty silly things. I'm sorry."
The kid looked surprised..then pleased that this man would seek him out to apologize.
Maybe today, on this pretty Sunday, both of these guys learned not to accept first impressions.
Is it any wonder why I love this guy??
Didn't think so..
Have an educational Monday..and go hug someone..or something..or hug the universe..
-me