A Childhood Moment

We were very young and only wanted a few pecans. We roamed from tree to tree, from West to East. This time, we were on the West side of town picking up pecans without fear or trepidation. That is, until a large man stepped in among us and demanded that we cease and desist gathering pecans from his property. We had no idea about properties, public or private. We only knew where to find pecans on trees along the roadsides. Yes, he had every right to the proper and authorized use of his property, but he did not have the right to be mean and intimidating toward us. We were not bad or rebellious kids, but he had hatred in his eyes. It happened more than 60 years ago, and my eyes are moist as I pause, reminisce, and write this. Some things are better forgotten, because they cause pain, but perhaps that is the precise reason that we can't forget them. Sure, we move on and are not crippled by the cruel and sad moments of our early childhood, but we do remember. Yes, we quickly exited his property without a word from us that I remember. He was a large mean man, and we were small timid kids being plagued with a memory that would last a lifetime. If he could have only realized that a kinder approach would have gotten the same results, the memory of him would have been a sweet and gentle one, rather than one that causes moisty eyes of pain. 060421PSCtest, A Tender Moment From Childhood, Malabika Ray Choudhury