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 Holly Winter Living The Life Of Holly June 20, 2003 “You know what those fish would really like?” I asked the nine year old girl standing next to me. “What?” “An orange shoe. Wonder where we could get one.” She, the wearer of the orange shoes, got the joke immediately. “Know what those fish would really like?” She asked. “What?” “A camera. You know the kind. With the picture on the back. That’s what the fish would really like.” I laughed. “No. I saw a sign earlier that said, ‘Please feed these fish some orange shoes.’ They have been waiting for a girl like you all night. Those shoes are perfect.” “No. Those fish would really like a nice, rich lady like you.” “Rich. Me? How can you tell I’m rich? Oh. Because I have so many friends. You can tell that I’m rich in friends, can’t you?” “Know what that fish would really like?” She asked. “What.” I liked playing with her. Darlin-man and I had finished our dinner and were hanging out on the restaurant’s peer watching as people fed bits of bread to the fish. I noticed that this girl had orange shoes, that was easy to spot. I also noticed that her hands were deformed. Both of them. She only had three fingers on each hand. I decided to play with her for a few more minutes, knowing that children with physical challenges often worry about not fitting in. And she was incredibly fun to play with. What amazing social skills. “That fish would really like if you took off your clothes and swam around in your underwear.” She said. “No way. The fish would be laughing at me if I swam around in my underwear. And. They would be laughing so hard they would probably drown. And you would be taking pictures of me and putting them in the newspaper. No way.” “Just do it.” She was laughing so hard she could hardly stand. “Ok.” I said. “I’ll do it.” Her eyes grew big. “You will?” “Yes. I’ll do it right after you do it. I’ll jump in right after YOU jump into the water in YOUR underwear.” “No. That would be bad.” “Why?” “That would make you a follower. You have to learn how to be a leader.” She said, smiling a big winner’s smile. Hey. This girl was good. “I LIKE to follow. Be my leader.” I laughed. “No. Be your own leader.” She giggled. I stopped playing and looked at her. “You know what?” “What.” “I like your attitude.” “Is that bad?” “No. That’s good. Really good. You have a great personality.” “I DO?” I laughed. “Yes. You really, really do. This has been fun. But. Now I have to go.” “Stay longer!” “Nope. You need to go and eat your dinner.” I waved to her family. “I need to get on with my evening. But first I want to shake your hand.” Her whole body caved in. “I don’t like to shake hands.” “I do.” I said. “I like to shake the hands of the people I like. I like you.” “You do?” “You helped me laugh.” It took some talking, but eventually I got to shake her hand. “Lovely to meet you, Darlin-girl.” I said. “Lovely to meet you.” She said. “And I still think that you should try swimming in your underwear.” “I need a leader.” I shrugged. She turned to Darlin-man who had been watching. “You should be her leader.” “Oh.” He smiled. “I’ll keep that in mind. Maybe later.” “Wait… that might not be such a good idea…” I worried. “Well.” She said, feigning sadness. “You had your chance. “Either you will learn to lead yourself, or you will have to follow others and swim with the fish when someone else has already done it.” Yeah. I know. I’m guessing that I just met with the world’s next big motivational speaker. Can’t you see the title to her first book? “Don’t Be The Second One To Swim With The Fish, You Follower.” ------------ About the author: Holly Winter is a teacher and a writer and a flight attendant living in Denver, Colorado, USA. She can be reached at her website or email: Holly@livingthelifeofholly.com Comment on this column in the forum. ------------ |
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