Behind the facade of ugliness (395 words)

I was in the supermarket with my seven-year-old daughter, having just bought groceries and treats from the bakery. The evening breeze was gentle, and my daughter wished to sit by the fountain outside the store and watch the falling water. I moved towards a bench where a young boy was already sitting. As we got closer, I noticed his dirty, torn knickers and oversized T-shirt. His unkempt hair looked like it hadn’t been washed for days, and his bare legs were covered in grime.

As my daughter rushed to the bench, I called her back. “Let’s sit on the other bench,” I said.

“Why, Mom? I like this one. There’s a boy there,” she asked innocently.

“It’s not clean here. Let’s go to the other bench,” I replied, avoiding a detailed explanation.

She followed reluctantly, frequently glancing back at the boy. He smiled at her, his eyes sparkling with joy.

“What’s wrong with sitting next to him? Is it because he’s poor?” she asked, her tone tinged with sadness and anger.

“He’s dirty. I don’t want you near him,” I said.

She sat grumpily beside me; her eyes still drawn to the boy. Suddenly, he stood up and pulled out a friendship band from his pocket, smiling invitingly. My daughter looked at me, eyes pleading.

It was then in a blinding flash of realization, I became aware of how peevish I had been failing to see the beauty in his spirit past that grubby outfit. I could no longer see the filth in his hair or dress. “Why not? Go to him and get the wristband,” I told my daughter.

She jumped in joy and ran to him. The boy tied the band carefully without touching her hand with both watching me. I called them both over and handed my daughter a packet of chocolates to share. I told my daughter, “Give him your hand for a warm shake and run around the fountain”.

As they ran with their hands held together, I could see the happiness writ large on their faces. The boy no longer seemed ugly and his smile looked angelic to me as his warmth and joy were evident.

Reflecting on my childhood, I realized how superficial my initial judgment had been. True beauty lies within and we must look deeper to find it. Life’s circumstances vary, but kindness and warmth transcend appearances.