A Trip to Legoland: 500 Words a Day – Day 15
*image from youtube. found searching “indian kids on airplanes” and when that turned up nothing I went to “indian kid talks to me” and found this ^*
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The thing we are waiting for, is it good?
I don’t have anything to talk about at the moment. My mind is still somewhere over the Pacific. I would like to live in outer space. Just for the stars. And Interstellar. And Matthew McConaughey. Never been able to spell his name without looking it up. Even then, still comes down to copy and paste because I don’t have those tracks laid down sufficiently. It’s very unique spelling.
I sat next to a little Indian kid from Mumbai on the flight home today. He was in 6th grade. His family was across the aisle and a row back. I don’t normally like to talk to people on flights, unless they are Swedish and even then I panic, unless I’ve been drinking, but this young fella wouldn’t stop staring at me. With the world these days, every time I thought to say hi I was sure the white woman next to us was going to suspect me of being a child molester. But his chubby little face and big eyes were too endearing. I broke down and nodded my head at him, “Sup, dude.” He panicked and turned away. Maybe because I am part Scandinavian or maybe because he was shocked. But after a few seconds he was staring again so I went at it a little more.
“Where are you from?”
“Mumbai.”
“Do you like it?”
“Yes.”
“Where are you visiting?”
“San Francisco and San Diego.”
“Do you like them?”
“Yes.”
“What kind of music do you like?”
“I don’t know.”
And we took a short break. Meanwhile, Greg is on the other side of the aisle basically holding this woman’s baby for her as she knocks out in the airplane sleep pose that can only be likened to a particular disease that causes one to lose all bodily control. And while I know it’s not a nice or compassionate comparison, it was the right call for me to make.
“Where will you visit while you’re here?”
“Legoland and Seaworld.”
“Christ.”
“Huh?”
“Nothing. You’ll have a lot of fun.”
“Yes, I am very excited.”
“Your English is good.”
“Yes, I’ve been told before.”
“Take a compliment, kid.”
“What did you say?”
“You should go to Sunset Cliffs. It’ll change your life. Have your dad take you there.”
“Sunset Cliffs? Is it a beach?”
“It’s better. You’ll learn things.”
At this point he is confused but he’s smiling and we’re becoming friends in the way the grumpy old guy becomes friends with the naive and dumb (endearing) little foreign kid in all the movies with Bill Murray in them.
Some time passes. I’m thinking about a nap since I haven’t slept in 37 hours.
I can feel him looking at me.
I open my eyes.
“What’s your favorite animal?” He asks, smiling.
“Snow leopard.”
This catches him off guard, as it does all people because they seldom think about an animal as mystical and powerful as this.
“Whoa. That’s a good one.”
“Yes it is. And yours?”
“I like the cheetah.”
“Pretty good choice.”
“Do you like cars?” He continues with a new sense of confidence.
“I do.”
“What’s your favorite car?”
“Porsche. 911 Carrera.”
“Yes this one is good but the GT is faster.”
“You’re right about that.”
Some more time passes and at this point I’m waiting for him to slip me a hand written note that says, “please adopt me” but it never comes. A moment passes where I contemplate if my life has enough meaning and if I should move to India.
“Sunset Cliffs you said?” He asks.
“You won’t be disappointed.”
