VOICE

My attention was drawn to the restaurant table next to ours, when I heard the father admonishing his seven-year-old son.  The mom sat silently,  yet I could sense she was upset.  Doesn't matter what the father was saying, only that the boy contracted when hearing his father's angry tone of voice.  It was a manners thing.  Blame for being spontaneous and playful.  The father was embarrassed by his son's behavior.

Probably, the dad was unaware of how he sounded, and the impact he had on those around him.  He seemed unaware of the pain he was offering his boy.  When he walked to the counter to get their food, I stood and reached over my table to hold out my hands, one of them holding a coin, and asked the boy which hand had a quarter in it.  The boy, hesitant, wondering who this stranger was, looked at me, and pointed to my right hand.  I opened it and there was the coin.  His face lit up.  We did it again and the boy touched the correct hand. 

When his dad returned with the food, the boy turned around to get his sandwich.  Without thinking, I got up and walked to their table.   Directing my attention to the boy, I said, "show your dad the trick I just showed you."   "Yeah dad, guess which hand I have the coin."  He guessed the correct hand.  I went back to my table leaving them to continue the game.  I watched as the father joined his son, showing him another trick with his hands.  Both laughing and creating new tricks for each other, the mother sat back relaxed and enjoying her family.  Me too.