The Teacher said, “Today you must face fear…”

The Child asked, “How will I recognize fear?

The Teacher replied, “You will recognize fear because it talks very loud and very fast.”

The Child responded, “So I should remain quiet?”

“Or just say No!”

*

I learned over time to be the Quiet One.

I live in an urban neighborhood where there’s a street level crime base and here I’m known as the Big guy with the little girl.

The whispers are, ‘The quiet ones are the dangerous ones. ‘

I leave them alone believing their mythologies… and they leave us alone.