Hey, guys so here's something a little different today. Amongst all the opinions and non-fiction, here's a little story to think about during your week...
The Thieves of Burr Street...
On the eve of her eleventh birthday, Roma and her father fled through the woods. Branches tore at her tights and she could feel the coldness start to seep in. She ran as fast as her legs could carry her, light on her step to hopefully not make much noise. She had been watching her feet and when she looked up she couldn't see her Papa anywhere.
She stopped, then began, "Papa?" She sat upon a tree stump and breathed for a moment. Once standing again her father came up behind her. She made a noise of surprise and turned around. She smiled, relieved that it's him, but her father stands in front of her and ever so quietly places a finger over his lips. In the distance, the sound of heavy hooves on the forest floor can be heard. Her father gathered her tightly into his arms and they stay in a huddle by a damp tree until the frightening men leave.
"Who were they, Papa? Were they the bad guys?"
"No, they were the good guys." Her father responded to while they both stood up.
"Then why were we hiding from them?" She asked while inspecting her gray tights' many holes.
"Because we aren't the good guys necessarily." She looked up to him in that moment. “We are the bad guys?"
"No, we just aren't those good guys. We are a different kind of good guy."
"How can you tell?" She asked completely in awe.
They started on the move again except this time walking instead of running. He reached for her small shaky hand. She took his rough hand and they walked side-by-side, in stride with one another.
"It's about your beliefs Roma." Her father finally answered.
"What kind of beliefs?" She asked in a tiny voice. Her father stopped and looked her in the eyes. His deep hazel eyes staring into his daughter's green ponds. Her eyes are young and full of things not yet seen, hope and not despair. Life and not death. He envies them.
"Do you want me to test you?" She smiled a crooked smile and nodded, her golden curls bouncing along.
"The world is not black and white my pet. It's not even just gray, it's a collage of all the colors and it's messy but that's what makes it good too." She took a few steps back and found another stump this one a bit softer than the last. Her father moved down to crouch on the forest floor, "You know sometimes we take things that aren't ours, and that we don't ask to borrow them." She nodded not exactly looking at him.
"Do you think it's right?"
"No," she said plainly. Her father nodded, "But do you think it's right for those men to do it by asking?"
"What do you mean?" She began to kick her shoe on the side of the old trunk.
"Those men will ask for everything you have and take more than you have to give."
"That's not right either, but why can't you just say no?"
"Well because-," He froze for a long moment, looking at her small face and wondering about that moment when she's grown and how all these questions will turn her into a different person than she was five minutes ago.
"Because sadly things don't work like that."
"Are there any more questions to check my beliefs, Papa?" She asked completely unaware of the importance of the matter. Her father laughed, and kissed her forehead.
"Yes which is better, butter on bread or Papa's jam?"
"Papa's jam of course!"
"That's my girl, come on." They continued walking until the forest floor started to resemble a stone path. Roma's shoes started to make sound and she tried to walk even quieter.
"It's okay my pet we are here."
I hope you enjoyed this, I know I enjoyed writing it. Share my awkwardness with your friends!
