The Nice Thing About Strangers
Creative Non-Fiction Short Stories. :) Travel, Oldsters, Love, and Compassion.
Pout
The little girl with a hot pink jacket runs the wrong way on the airport’s moving sidewalk. She’s on the phone. “Frozen and Superheroes, Save me! Grandpa’s trying to get me!” Travelers trip around her. Expensive airport sandwiches are consumed without a chance for quiet. Peaceful reading is loudly interrupted by her screams.
Her very patient grandfather is carrying her sparkling purple backpack and pleads with her to walk the right way, to look out for people she’s nearly bowling over. He can’t get to her, since there’s a row of chairs between the moving sidewalk and Grandpa. He’s walking a parallel track to his disobedient GrandCherub. People seated in the chairs between the aim to lean, duck, and fidget, hoping he’ll get through or talk some sense into the elementary-school-gate-menace.
Later, however, Grandpa is walking with purpose toward his gate. Grandpa collects grins from weary travelers. Trailing behind, wearing a scowl, the hot pink coat rustling as she sulks, the Granddaugher follows. Her arms are folded and her lip out in a pout. She wants it on the record that she’d rather not do what she’s told! Yet, she moves semi-obediently after all.
-Denver International Airport
My niece–you can imagine she’s an angel and would never have been such a menace in the airport. 🙂 (Can’t speak for her Aunt, though, as sometimes taking notes in the airport can start a ruckus.)
The Nice Thing About Strangers 
Little ones are such fun when travelling…………..said no one ever
Haha! I’ve seen some really well-behaved kids too. But heck if this little rascal didn’t just snag my attention! 🙂
Paige