It’s morning at my office, and I decide to take a break from my computer. Standing near the front door, I stare into the beautiful, crisp morning air.
To my amazement, I see an assortment of characters. I’m sure I’ve seen them before—some on several occasions—but for some reason, on this particular morning, I really SEE them. I begin to ponder who they really are, what are their goals, where they’re scurrying to on this fine day.
Generally, I simply notice the driver in front of me during rush hour…how they missed that turn—and made me miss it, too! Idiot! Or the pedestrian who runs across the street in oncoming traffic. What an imbecile!
I realize that my self-absorbed nature leaves only room for one in my world. Me. I don’ t like who I’ve become and today I find myself actually thinking of the people who cross my path as individuals.
But today, for whatever reason, I wonder. Who are they—truly at the core. And my imagination runs wild. For the first time, to paraphrase from a cult classic, “I see real people.”
I notice a young Black girl, about 20 years old, walking down the street, laughing, while “clacking” on her phone. What’s so funny to her? I wonder. Is there some inside joke that I’m missing, or just a silly ditty that the person on the other end just shared with her. I wonder if her humor is as mine. I wonder if, under different circumstances, we could be friends.
Does she have children? Has she really fallen in true love? Is she on her way to work? If so, what type of work does she do? She’s wearing a scarf on her head. It’s aged, but stylishly and firmly wrapped to fit her tiny skull. And she’s got a great shape. While her frame is small, she looks strong. She is swiftly out of view, and I still wonder about her. She’s on foot. Alone.
And I wonder if she’ll reach her destination safely.
Next, I see a white man in his mid forties. His walk is slower, although more determined. He’s carrying a black lunchbox and very focused on where he’s headed.
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