Conflict

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Photo by Whitney Matheson

CONFLICT

Ida couldn’t hear what the Big Kid said to the Small Kid, but she could tell he wasn’t just goofing around, and then when the shoving started, an unexpected instinct bubbled within her, and she ran up the street in her nicest shoes.

“STOP! Stop that right now!” she yelled.

The kids stopped and listened, which meant she had to say something else.

“It’s a mean, hard world — and you’re making it worse!” She stood between them, alternating stern looks to Big Kid with softer ones to Small. “Be kind to each other, guys. Please.”

Satisfied the fight had subsided, she continued walking and (was something in the air?) heard more shouts down the block. The red-faced Honda Driver and high-pitched Delivery Driver could’ve been future versions of the kids she just saw. They honked, cursed and halted traffic, which daisy-chained into more honking and cursing from the cars behind them.