Crosswalk Characters

I'm the crosswalk guard for an elementary school.  And don't tell anyone, but I LOVE it!  It's full of adventure and cuteness everyday.  Not to mention the amazing characters passing by.

There's the sour-looking boy with long hair who never looked at me the first ten times I said a cheery hello.  Then, one week on Crazy Hat Day, he ventured to wear a tall, blue and white, Seuss-like hat.  I chuckled and told him I loved it.  He grinned.  I gasped and almost dropped the stop sign.  From then on, he said hello every morning.  Sometimes before I could say it to him!!  Double gasp.

Then there is the fragile, petite boy with huge glasses.  He mutters quietly to himself and when I greet him he seems surprised.  Like he didn't notice I was there.  Then he smiles an innocent smile and returns my greeting.  I have to resist the urge to give him a big squeezy hug.

One little girl strolls by who is full of purpose and direction.  She's the kind of child all the others listen to.  She's dressed impeccably everyday--though not in a snobby way.  It's more...a unique fashion all her own.  She looks me in the eyes and talks to me like we're both adults.  She smiles politely and tells me how she loves my rain boots but she wouldn't like standing in the rain.  She has the confidence I'd love to own.

And then there is the little girl who seems too young to be walking alone but never seems afraid.  She notices the world around her in magnified form.  She giggles at everything I say to her and always tells me a tidbit from her day.  "This is the pumpkin I decorated today.  It's a girl clown."  Things like that.  And I have to wonder if there's anyone listening to her anywhere else.

But that brings me back to why I love being a crossing guard.  Who could resist being among such interesting characters?  Even if these little ones don't get a smile for the rest of the day, I'll give them one after school and the morning after that, and the afternoon after that. 

Sigh.  I love guarding the crosswalk.