Beginnings

I walked to this building, I think I was 6, with my babysitters son of the same age. Almost one major city block in Toronto. David and I were outside of our tri level apartment playing, when our friend Frankie walked by. Frankie’s mom had a baby and of course I loved babies! Well we dashed into the apartment and begged to go to Frankie’s, but David’s mom said no. Frankie’s mom had invited us but the answer was no. We went back out to deliver the bad news and we were left to whine to each other about how unfair it was. After a few minutes, David said he would try again and dashed off to ask his mom. He came flying outside and told me she changed her mind and we took off full tilt to catch up to Frankie’s mom. It was a glorious ride in the elevator, it was a floor past 10. We spent the afternoon, me with the baby and David playing with Frankie.

The baby went for a nap and we were getting bored, so we headed to the balcony to take in the views. People looked tiny on the ground, but I knew it was my mother and my babysitter on the sidewalk out front. David and I climbed higher to wave our arms and call our hellos. Momma looked different when she got to the base of the building. Turns out, David lied, we did not have permission. Our moms were in a panic, no clue where Frankie lived, and beside themselves that this set of kindergarten kids had gone up the four lane major road. Mom said, I was hanging over the balcony rail. We heard it all the way home.

I got the leather strap at home. I didn’t cry, I didn’t do anything wrong. I sobbed through the talking part, not suppose to trust anybody! I was five, I didn’t know people lied. I still trust people until I have a reason not to. I detest liars. Fast forward fifty years, as a grandparent, I feel physically ill. Our poor Mommas. How terrified they must of been. People are not perfect, things happen in an instant. This is a teaching story, could have had a totally different outcome. Frankie’s mom was a gracious host. It was a great time until it wasn’t. Some kids know how to lie at a young age, some don’t. Who has fault in this story. I won’t debate or judge that, but it clearly shows how anything can happen.