Thinknews

Chapter 9 – A Child's Question

Several weeks later, the market had reopened.

Everything looked brighter than before.

Wider walkways.

Safer drainage.

New trees lined the entrance.

During the reopening celebration, a small boy tugged gently on Alex's sleeve.

"Mister..."

Alex knelt.

"Yes?"

"Were you really the scary man everyone talks about?"

The crowd grew quiet.

Alex smiled honestly.

"Yes."

"Were people afraid of you?"

"They were."

The little boy frowned.

"Then why are you nice now?"

Alex glanced toward Pretty before answering.

"Because someone much smaller than me had the courage to tell me I was wrong."

The boy looked surprised.

"A kid?"

Alex nodded.

"Sometimes the greatest teachers don't have gray hair."

"They just have honest hearts."

The child thought for a moment before smiling.

"I want to be brave like that."

Alex gently patted his shoulder.

May you like

"Then always speak the truth with kindness."

"And always listen when someone else does."

Other posts