cell phone pix

i have a picture on my phone
it's been there for awhile
i don't know why i took it
i just did.

it's of a little boy, maybe 7 or 8
he has a helmet and bookbag on, and he's standing next to his bicycle
he's on a side walk, about to cross the street

i don't remember why i took the picture
it was just an impulse, i guess
i don't usually take pictures with my phone

when i'm bored i like to look at the picture and imagine what circumstances the little boy was facing

one time: he had been on his way home from school, like usual, when a group of second grade bullies had made fun of him so he pedaled faster until he got away. And when he reached that intersection he had let out a huge sigh of relief as he was about to calmly cross the street

another time: i see him as a privileged kid whose parents are overly protective and wealthy. he is, however, an only child and gets everything he wants, alas when he asks his parents for a bicycle they give it him. Three months later, when he asks his parents to let him ride his new bike to school 'cause all his friends are doing it, they say yes again! hence, when i took that picture of him at the streetlight he was boasting with the pride of being independent and of being the owner of that cool blue and red bicycle

when i'm not making up stories about this boy, he remains in the back of mind.

on the other half of the picture, you see, is a big white car.
i sometimes worry that this car may not have seen the boy about to cross and pressed the gas pedal as the boy was pushing his pedals.

i sometimes worry that if he had survived that day, what would protect him from any other day?

he looked so adorable and innocent on that street corner.
i think of him every night and pray that all may be well with him and his family.
that he may have a safe trip to and from school every day.

i sometimes feel as though my prayers are answered when i see him (or a boy who i assume is him) on a bicycle, going down the same road i once saw him on. whenever this happens, my eyes tear up a little and i remember why i cared.

actually, i took this picture on december 1st at 3:19 pm.
i still cannot remember why though but i'm glad i did.
it's just one of those things you stop asking why and come to accept;
it's nice.