Sunday, September 03, 2006

S'licha G'veret - Excuse me lady

I'm walking along minding my own business when I become aware that a little kid is speaking to me. I focus - Excuse me lady, would you please walk me across the street, the urchin asks. I look around, no crosswalk nearby but clearly this is a regular thing for him. We stand in the street, watching the cars zip by on Derekh Beit Lechem and then, when the traffic clears, I walk him across. Does he walk with me nicely? NO. He darts across with his scooter, cutting in front of a lady sitting in her car, waiting to turn onto the street. I shrug to the lady and continue on my way, as he shleps his scooter onto the sidewalk.