I spied a colourful plastic kid's trike out the back of Michelle's apartment last Wednesday when we arrived in Washington DC (actually Arlington, VA). It was sitting neglected and forlorn on the grass. A week later, it had been inconspicuously moved to the side of the garbage bins. I decided to take it for a ride because the swimming pool was closed. I spun the pedals with some difficulty, and found the smallest of raised concrete an uphill battle. But when i was cycling around the path at a speed able to instill awe into any 3 year old who happened to be watching my comical gangly appearance, i was outside myself for a few minutes. Disembodied in the purity of the moment.
When i completed my circuit, a van pulled up in the parking lot adjacent. A young lady and two children clambered out. The youngest boy had a balloon pegged to his shirt at the back. I forget what was on the balloon, but it was a foil balloon and had red edges. He saw the trike and stumbled towards us as his older sister and brother went to their apartment. As he came towards us, he displayed a curious habit. He waved hello and stopped. Waved hello and stopped. Waved hello and stopped, until he finally reached his objective. We of course obliged and waved back as often as we were greeted.
The wonderment of a child's glee was not lost on us.
He stole the trike away from us and pushed it backwards to hide behind a tree near his house as dad, sara and i walked back to michelle's apartment. As we departed, the young boy waved goodbye to us for a long time. And as i walked away i thought i'd play along...so i waved goodbye and stopped. Waved goodbye and stopped.
We all waved goodbye...
I'm guessing the trike belonged to the young korean boy who lives across the grass.
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