Self Awareness

SHORT STORY TITLE: The Influence of One Superhuman.

The presence of your courage lit a dim world.
It’s a beautiful sunny day in Summertime.

A dad is off work to babysit his seven-year-old daughter and one-year-old twins for the day. For lunch, the children packed into his car, and he drove them to the Downtown McDonald’s. They got out of the car and went inside.
It was a full house during lunchtime at this place. They stood in line to order and then found a table.

While waiting for the food, both babies were restless and fussy. The food arrived, and the dad was setting up their meals.
“Can you go ask for ketchup?” he asked.
“Yes.” The daughter replied.

She approached the counter and asked, “Hi, can I have sauce?”
“Yes! What sauce do you like?” the lady asked.
“Sweet & Sour sauce,” she answered.

She received a few of her favorite sauces.
She returned to their table, sat down, and placed the sauce packets on the table. Immediately, her dad reached over the table and slapped her face.

“I told you to ask for ketchup, and you couldn’t?” he asked.
She’s hit in public. She lost her appetite, slumped into the seat, and sat crossed-armed. She tried not to cry too loudly because she was embarrassed. The dad continued with their meals.

Suddenly, you walked up and appeared standing at their table.
“You shouldn’t hit your daughter,” you spoke.
Everyone stopped, and eyes turned to their table.

“What did you say?” he asked you.

“You should not hit your daughter.”

“Mind your own business,” he said to you.

“No. I am not going to do that. You are wrong. She’s a little girl! And she is your daughter. You shouldn’t hit her or anyone!”

A stranger was speaking up for her and she pursed her lips not to grin. She turned slightly to see a shadow image standing upright with clutching fists; a figure of you appeared brave in defending another in public.

“This is my family. I can do as I want. Let’s go!” the dad replied.
He swiftly picked up the twins’ carriers and went out the door. Then, his daughter realized she had to get up to follow her dad. Your body language looked as if you were defeated. But that was not the case. The girl stopped at the doorway and glanced back towards the table where you were standing, grinning like a Cheshire cat’s ‘Thank You.’

She stepped outside into the fresh air.

‘Ghee, it’s so vibrant out here right now,’ she thought – the sounds of Downtown, the vibrant colors in the environment, and that afternoon sky’s so blue – everything felt nice, and she slowly continued towards their car.

‘Adults have different characteristics. What a good extreme. A good surprise that happened,’ she thought about you. She closed the door, and no one said anything on the way home.