Too Beautiful

At the middle table at Starbucks, a mom and her daughter are playing a game and drinking hot chocolate. Mom is white, Little Girl is not white, and Little Girl has a beautiful afro.

At the corner table at Starbucks, a young woman is working at her computer. Young woman is not white, and she too has a beautiful afro.

Little Girl points to Young Woman. Little Girl whispers to mom.

As they leave, Mom and Little Girl walk holding hands, and they stop by the table of Young Woman.

Mom says to Young Woman, “Excuse me, I just wanted to tell you that my daughter noticed your hair, and she loved it. She was so happy to see hair that looks like hers today.”

Young Woman says thank you. Mom and Little Girl walk out of Starbucks. The door closes behind them.

Young Woman puts her face in her hands and cries.

From another corner table in Starbucks, I watched it happen.

This life is too beautiful to hold.

~ ~ ~

“I am glad to be here, in this alarming and disastrous and marvelous world.”

~ Madeleine L’engle