It was a lovely, bright mid- July day. In fact, it was one of those days that is completely perfect weatherwise- not too hot , but not lacking in sun, either. Grace sat at a small table outside a coffee house, happily sipping a chi, while watching the shoppers pass by. There was nothing extraordinary about her. She was a young girl about twenty-one years old, slim in stature, and rather tall. Her hair was medium length- dark brown. She would have fair skin, if it wasn't for the tan that she had recently obtained while vacationing in Italy. On the table lay a book that she had just finished. She was the perfect picture of ease and elegance as she sat, waiting for her check.
At the moment she was as content as anyone could be. She was doing one of her favorite things in the world: people- watching. Similar to bird watching, people watching was an observation of society. Watching as people went through everyday activities. It may sound rather boring, but if you asked Grace she would tell you that it was fascinating. She loved to watch people; to watch simple everyday dramas, such as a mother trying to control three small children with only two arms, that happened to be full of bags and other paraphalia at the same time. She liked to watch relationships between people as well- friends catching up on old times, or small acts of kindness between complete strangers. At this point in her life, Grace thought people were generally good and kind. The World had never shown her otherwise, at least not in her short life. She knew little of pain and suffering, she had yet no reason to.
At the moment she was watching a little girl. The girl was about three years old with bright red hair. She was trying to eat her ice cream sundae, that was probably half the size of her head, while also trying to tell a story to a little boy with red hair next to her (probably her younger brother). The little girl had ice cream all over her face and hands, she even had it in her hair. The seen brought a smile to Grace's face. She didn't know the children, but wished that she had her camera to capture the moment.
As she watched more, she spotted a man with the same red hair, most likely the father. He was standing and looking out into the crowd. It was obvious though, that he was not People-watching as Grace was. He was pacing a little, looking at his watch and scanning the area. Every once in a while, glancing at the children to make sure that they hadn't moved. The children, oblivious to their father's behavior, were chatting happily in baby talk. They now had ice cream everywhere imaginable, but in their mouths. The man had spotted someone in the crowd and was visibly relieved. He smiled and waved to the person- a woman with curly brown hair that wore a business suit and carried a briefcase. Now that the woman was approaching, he relaxed and looked at the children again. It was then that he realized what a mess they had made. He quickly went to them and started mopping them off with napkins. The woman arrived at the table. The man stopped whiping his kids and gave her an "are you going to kill me face?" But she just laughed and kissed him, and then the children.
Grace smiled at them. She wanted to be like them someday. She paid her check and left a tip. As she walked away, she glanced back at the table with the happy family. "Someday," she thought.
At the moment she was as content as anyone could be. She was doing one of her favorite things in the world: people- watching. Similar to bird watching, people watching was an observation of society. Watching as people went through everyday activities. It may sound rather boring, but if you asked Grace she would tell you that it was fascinating. She loved to watch people; to watch simple everyday dramas, such as a mother trying to control three small children with only two arms, that happened to be full of bags and other paraphalia at the same time. She liked to watch relationships between people as well- friends catching up on old times, or small acts of kindness between complete strangers. At this point in her life, Grace thought people were generally good and kind. The World had never shown her otherwise, at least not in her short life. She knew little of pain and suffering, she had yet no reason to.
At the moment she was watching a little girl. The girl was about three years old with bright red hair. She was trying to eat her ice cream sundae, that was probably half the size of her head, while also trying to tell a story to a little boy with red hair next to her (probably her younger brother). The little girl had ice cream all over her face and hands, she even had it in her hair. The seen brought a smile to Grace's face. She didn't know the children, but wished that she had her camera to capture the moment.
As she watched more, she spotted a man with the same red hair, most likely the father. He was standing and looking out into the crowd. It was obvious though, that he was not People-watching as Grace was. He was pacing a little, looking at his watch and scanning the area. Every once in a while, glancing at the children to make sure that they hadn't moved. The children, oblivious to their father's behavior, were chatting happily in baby talk. They now had ice cream everywhere imaginable, but in their mouths. The man had spotted someone in the crowd and was visibly relieved. He smiled and waved to the person- a woman with curly brown hair that wore a business suit and carried a briefcase. Now that the woman was approaching, he relaxed and looked at the children again. It was then that he realized what a mess they had made. He quickly went to them and started mopping them off with napkins. The woman arrived at the table. The man stopped whiping his kids and gave her an "are you going to kill me face?" But she just laughed and kissed him, and then the children.
Grace smiled at them. She wanted to be like them someday. She paid her check and left a tip. As she walked away, she glanced back at the table with the happy family. "Someday," she thought.