Shouldn't…but Do

Doorbell just rang.  I do not know how many of you remember Walking Man – but there he was, on my doorstep.

Walking Man has been walking for years.  A solemn, silent presence in my neighborhood and on my walks as I  tread the same streets as he.  Years passed and despite the silence, now and then I got a smile, then a greeting – and some time ago, I learned his name and began striking up conversation.

Walking Man turned out to be a highly intelligent high school senior.  His interests are not like others, he knows it, but that is okay.  He walks.

Today he hand-delivered an invitation to his graduation open house and I was as proud of him as I could be.  His hair was shorter in the picture on the card, his eyes could be seen and I commented on their blue blue color.

Graduation.  Walking Man is off to university, hoping for some scholarship money still to come in.  School is expensive, but it is where he needs to be.  I will go to his open house with my children and we will see off this nice young man who once was a stranger.

He is a good man, I hope he has a good life.  I will miss him.