Afraid
“Mom?”
“Yes, Grant?” Viv looked up from her book, giving her son her full attention.
Grant’s eyes remained fixed on his own book, though he had laid it face down in front of him. He had never refused to meet Liv’s eyes before.
“What’s going on?” she asked.
Grant chewed at his bottom lip, never a good sign. “How do you stop being afraid?”
Viv set her book down and shifted closer on the bench seat. “What are you afraid of?”
“I have to give a presentation in front of the whole school next week.”
“Ah, I see.” Viv relaxed just a hair, managing to get in a full breath.
“You’re not afraid. You’re a police officer.”
“Look at me, kiddo.”
Grant slowly raised his eyes to meet hers. Better.
“I’m afraid a lot.”
“No, you’re not.” Grant’s scowl telegraphed his disbelief.
Now it was Viv’s turn to hesitate. “Everyone is afraid of things. I was terrified when your Dad died and I realized I would have to raise you alone. Sometimes I’m afraid when I get called to an active crime scene.”
“Really?”
“Really. Being afraid doesn’t mean you can’t do something. Courage is about the willingness to do it even when you’re afraid.”
Nodding, Grant said, “Like when I was afraid to try rollerblading but made myself learn how anyway.”
“Exactly like that.”
“Okay.” Grant picked up his book, apparently satisfied.
Liv hid her sigh of relief behind her own book. It had taken most of her teenage years to learn the lesson she had just imparted to her son. Grant was a smart kid. At twelve, he was way ahead of her in every way. Maybe she didn’t need to worry so much about being a single mom. Maybe one day she’d tell him his Dad had deserted them, not died. Maybe not. Some things were just too much to lay on a kid, no matter how old.
I wrote this story thinking about a moral dilemma and a question. When are we making a decision out of fear and when are we doing it because it’s the right decision.
Do you think Viv should tell Grant the truth about his father? Why? I do have an opinion, but I’ll hold off sharing it until others have chimed in.
Me and my sayings, I know 🙃 But some have just been so meaningful for me, I can't shake them and I have to share them. Where there is no fear, there is no courage. I've been through times when I was afraid to say yes, afraid to say no, afraid to reach out or stay alone. Facing each one made me stronger. We just do what we can do, hmmm? Good lesson! Good reminder!
I enjoyed this story a lot