The other day I was walking through a small
deserted park with my 7 year old grandson when we heard some child calling out
for help.
We looked
around but couldn’t see any toddler in difficulty but finally noticed a young
girl of about 11 or 12 up in one of those wooden contraptions they build for
kids nowadays. Rope type ladders to climb up and then poles to slide down with
a wooden house type thing at the top.
This girl
was in a state and steadily getting worse. She was stuck out holding onto a
pole but was afraid to swing onto it and couldn’t get back on to the platform. Panic had taken hold of her.
I asked her
what the trouble was and she wanted her mother who wasn’t around; in fact
nobody was around.
I asked my
grandson what we should do. A shrug of the shoulders and a remark to the effect
of leaving her stuck up there and that we should continue on our way. I don’t
think he is particularly callous, probably just not interested in the fate of
strange girls. After all a boy would never get himself in such an embarrassing
situation.
So I had to
climb up the rope lattice work, age limit 8, hoping it would not break my age
being 78, and help the girl down.
Obviously
in this age of equality chivalry is doubtless considered a macho characteristic
and is not taught in school.
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