Thursday, September 13, 2001

Ethan and the Scary Railing

Ethan loves movement. He's in first grade and can hardly sit still. After school he used to slide down a railing on the school's front steps. For safety reasons I've asked him many times not to. Now he's taken to looking wistfully at the railing as children stream by headed for their rides.

Ethan's a good guard. If another child dares to slide down the railing, Ethan makes sure I hear about it. I restore justice and Ethan is glumly content.

Two days ago, terrorists flew jets into the World Trade Center. Now the school sports yellow ribbons tied on everything: bushes, door handles, backpacks... even Ethan's railing has several.
Ethan notices them for the first time and asks, "Why are there yellow ribbons on the railing?"

"Well, Ethan, the ribbons are for those people who died last Tuesday," I answer.

Ethan’s eyes grow wide and a wrinkle creases his brow. "They died sliding down the railing?!"

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