Okay for Now

by Gary D. Schmidt

“Some family,” I said. “No one’s paying attention to the mother. Who could blame her if she took off? Look at them.” A minute or so went by, and then Mrs. Windermere said, in a voice as soft as summer blue air, “Skinny Delivery Boy, you have it all wrong. Look how she’s standing close to her little one. She’s looking around to watch for the next spectacular thing that’s going to come into his life.” And I’m not lying, she was right.

I couldn’t keep myself from smiling. I couldn’t. Maybe this happens to you every day, but I think it was the first time I could hardly wait to show something that I’d done to someone who would care besides my mother. You know how that feels?

That’s what the picture was about: meeting, even though you might be headed in different directions. All movement relies on that kind of tension, you know.