The Nice Thing About Strangers
Creative Non-Fiction Short Stories. :) Travel, Oldsters, Love, and Compassion.
Cross Over
Maybe it was the impact of the sky and the water, but even the narrow road had its charm. Driving the curves, or walking on the crumbling shoulder that grew steeper over the coast, could leave one feeling essentially immortal.
A moped passed with a boy and girl riding together. She wrapped her arms around him so he took risks, passing on the middle line, weaving so she would cling to him more ferociously, her laugh bouncing up the hills. Someone’s helmet came loose and skated across the road into a rocky parking lot. They went on without it. Several minutes later, another boy cycled along, sans helmet and sans companion. He gave the find a double-take, slowed and leaned to lift the gift while still in motion. After the swoop, he stopped his bike, secured the helmet over his brown hair and departed in no particular hurry.
Later, a young woman and elderly woman prepared to cross from their present shoulder– which was about to disappear into the high rocks lining the road–toward a sidewalk that balanced over a great fall. The young woman took the older woman’s arm to guide her across. The older woman raised her arm in defiance, in independence she wriggled away, but the young woman seized her again. They wrestled as they crossed the road. They continued their tug-of-war most of the way to the market.
A little girl moments later ran to the other side as well. An approaching semi honked—slowing, but not stopping. She rushed across without looking over or gesturing any apologies, leaving a flurry of fake flower petals to mark her brave daily path.
-Trogir, Croatia
The Nice Thing About Strangers 
Reblogged this on The Nice Thing About Strangers and commented:
Is it too early in the yeay to start dreaming about swimming in Croatia?