Reaching Toward One Another
I stood next to my older brother in the field riveted on them. I lost all sense of time and place. They were standing so still. It seemed as though they were breathing as one organism.
I slowly let my eyes move from one to the other and then became solely focused on her.
She couldn’t be more than four feet tall. I could visualize all the stories of her life as I looked into her eyes.
I wasn’t sure what to do. An awkward moment. I paused. That’s all it took.
I reached out with my right arm, my palm open. An automatic reflex to greet her. I believe this may have been an unfamiliar gesture for her because she lowered her attention to the movement of my arm, and then looked me up and down, head to foot.
Still an awkward moment.
She then lifted her arm, imitating my gesture.
She came out of the group and walked towards me. I left my brother’s side and walked closer to her. We met with our right arms outstretched, palm to palm. Gently without clasping, our eyes upon one another.
A beautiful woman from a pygmy tribe and a white Caucasian girl from English descent.
I often think of her when disparities arise. It only takes one pause. In that pause, I just might be able to find the opening with someone who is as different from me as ever could be imaginable.
This song is for you.
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