When I would leave my hotel, it would usually be daylight. It was not recommended to go out at night because it was "unsafe" for tourists. There was nothing to prove this to be true so I would occasionally walk at night. Usually, this would be a short distance to the park to get some food, okay get a $1 slice of pizza. I was addicted and just love the fact it was $1 and so fresh and tasty.
When I walked around the fountain area, I saw this boy on a bike in the distance. When I walked home, I again saw this boy on a bike following behind. The last day, I saw this boy walking on foot near my hotel.
Of course, this could have been coincidental as this boy looked super innocent.
He said, "Hello" with a huge smile.
He had to be about 16 years old.
I said in a non-confrontational way
"I see you often around here."
He said, "I work across from you at the travel agency. This is my company on my shirt."
I said, "Oh I see. You like riding your bike."
He said, "Yes, I love my bike."
He would repeat his answer and he appeared a bit aloof, but very sweet and kind.
I was starting to notice that he could have Aspergers or a similar diagnosis.
I said, "You are riding your bike at night a lot."
He said, "Yes I see you in the street and in your hotel."
I said, "Oh why do you do that? I'm not that interesting."
He said, " To help keep you safe."
We continued our conversation and I realized that he was not following me rather he was watching over me. He said that many bad people walk around at night. He was scared that something would happen to me. He didn't come up to me because he did not want to bother me.
What was interesting that this boy actually felt more nervous when he saw me talking to strangers. When I was near the pizza place, the park, and even the church. He said I should not talk to these people because they could be bad.
It was clear this boy had a disability and it was clear that he was an angel on my shoulder.
Sometimes I feel invisible to danger because my strong connection with people. It's hard for me to remember that there is possibility for harm. No matter how much I can coach them, calm them down, reason with them, challenge them, smile towards them, listen to them, and love them-danger is present within the environment and keeping safe is important.
This boy took me down the street riding on his handle bars. I gave him a few pieces of candy and we parted ways. I'll never know if he really worked at the travel agency across the street or if he just came from a somewhere special......
When I walked around the fountain area, I saw this boy on a bike in the distance. When I walked home, I again saw this boy on a bike following behind. The last day, I saw this boy walking on foot near my hotel.
Of course, this could have been coincidental as this boy looked super innocent.
He said, "Hello" with a huge smile.
He had to be about 16 years old.
I said in a non-confrontational way
"I see you often around here."
He said, "I work across from you at the travel agency. This is my company on my shirt."
I said, "Oh I see. You like riding your bike."
He said, "Yes, I love my bike."
He would repeat his answer and he appeared a bit aloof, but very sweet and kind.
I was starting to notice that he could have Aspergers or a similar diagnosis.
I said, "You are riding your bike at night a lot."
He said, "Yes I see you in the street and in your hotel."
I said, "Oh why do you do that? I'm not that interesting."
He said, " To help keep you safe."
We continued our conversation and I realized that he was not following me rather he was watching over me. He said that many bad people walk around at night. He was scared that something would happen to me. He didn't come up to me because he did not want to bother me.
What was interesting that this boy actually felt more nervous when he saw me talking to strangers. When I was near the pizza place, the park, and even the church. He said I should not talk to these people because they could be bad.
It was clear this boy had a disability and it was clear that he was an angel on my shoulder.
Sometimes I feel invisible to danger because my strong connection with people. It's hard for me to remember that there is possibility for harm. No matter how much I can coach them, calm them down, reason with them, challenge them, smile towards them, listen to them, and love them-danger is present within the environment and keeping safe is important.
This boy took me down the street riding on his handle bars. I gave him a few pieces of candy and we parted ways. I'll never know if he really worked at the travel agency across the street or if he just came from a somewhere special......
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