Down,but not out.

Down, but not out.

We come across all sorts of people in our lives. Some leave an impression and some don’t.

I, personally, seem to have selective memory. I may remember someone I met thirty years ago, the mannerisms, voice, smile or even the birthday, but tend to forget the name or face of someone I met a few days back. You may put that down as signs of ageing, but that’s how it is!

In all of this, we meet people who are polite & courteous or rude & obnoxious, selfish & inconsiderate or kind & generous.

So there is this boy in our apartment. He looks 13 or 14 years old. I see him often & meet him in the lift or in the lobby. I noticed that he is always smiling, his head rocking back and forth, smartly dressed in his school uniform or like a cool teenager on weekends. He is also very popular with the other residents and the drivers who chat up with him and give him high fives.

We have all met those types who, whenever you enter the lift, suddenly find something fascinating on their shoes. Their gaze doesn’t shift from that intriguing pair of shoes. There are others who stare at the display that indicates the floor. They look at it with the same intensity that a space scientist gives to a countdown clock before a rocket launch. But not this boy…

He lights up the lift with his chirpy “Good morning”, announcing that he is ready for school.  Beams proudly and salutes you on days when he is wearing his Boy Scouts uniform. Flashes his colourful sneakers with the unbridled enthusiasm you would expect from a kid with new shoes. And always, without fail, holds the lift door open for others to enter or exit.

One day I saw him wearing one of those fluorescent rubber bands on his wrist, so I told him that it looks so cool. He glanced at my wrist and saw a frayed black thread and asked me what that was? I said that it’s tied by my grandmother after praying and wishing me good health. He shrugged and said straight away “Oh! Then yours is better than mine”.

One evening, I was returning late from work. I met this boy in the lift. He wished me, as usual, and said “Good evening Uncle, you seem to have had a very long day. You look tired. I think you should have a nice hot shower, some dinner and get some sleep!” I nodded and smiled at his observation and advice and thought…

“He is a nice, polite, sensitive kid….A nice, polite, sensitive kid with Down Syndrome...”

Makes me wonder…

What goes on in his brain? How does he perceive things? What challenges does he face every day? What’s his future? Where does he get that spirit and energy? What makes him smile?

What can we learn from him?

We always seem to want more than what we have but who would want one more Chromosome 21?

He is special, without doubt, and he maybe down, but not out.

P.S.

I was not sure whether I should share this piece, so I met the boy’s father and showed what I had written about his son. He read it and said that he was very happy that his son made such an impression on me with his attitude and conduct. He chatted with me and said with a smile “When my son was born, he looked scary, but the doctors said that if you interact with him, give him love and be happy then even his features will change gradually!”  I started off writing this as a tribute to the boy, but I now realize that I need to bow to his parents as well.