Member-only story
“HEY! PLAY WIF ME!”
One day, in a mood, I slammed out of the house to get some air. I walked for a bit, blowing off steam. I was on the opposite side of the street from a family with a basketball hoop. The dad was playing with two of his three kids. The third one one was way too small, probaby around three years old.
The game was fast and competitive, and they were obviously a family of basketballers extraordinaire. But the third one was third…and way too short.
I walked by, trying to stay mad.
But the little one stood up, must’ve smelled that I’d seen him, and he looked right at me and yelled, “HEY! PLAY WIF ME!” — every bit like the dog in the photo above. His attitude, his trust in my heart, his simple expression of what he wanted — it jiggled a laugh out of me, and my mood poofed away, never to be seen again.
Of course, I went to play with him. I went over and introduced myself, but his Dad got all embarrassed and chided the child. I said, “No, no, that was the best invitation I’ve had in ages.” And I really did want to join him in whatever game he wanted to play. But they decided it was time to go inside anyway, so I lost my little buddy.
But I didn’t lose the lesson. I’ve never forgotten that confident request.
