Nostalgia

Sometimes watching little children is not only amusing but also enlightening too. Today I saw from my terrace two children between ages of 5-6 years returning from school. One was with , probably his grandpa. His grandpa asked him something about his shoes. It appeared from his walk that the shoe was a bit loose or was pinching. He looked up to his grandpa, and said in an elated tone, " see this was Pinky Didi's shoe, she gave it to Rosy and then I got it" And they had gone out of my sight. It reminded me of my childhood when I would look up to a dress or a pair of shoe of my elder brother wondering when I would acquire it. At that age, it was the beauty of the thing that attracted and not whether one got it new or used. Following behind was a lonely child again one returning from school. He was kicking a pebble, and I am sure would take it right to his doorstep as I used to, when my elder brother on way back home from school would prefer to walk silently. I still wonder why my brother on way back from school was often sulking and shut me up when ever I attempted to start a conversation to break the monotony of walking. Then I too had found this hobby of kicking a pebble on the way right upto home. Once while doing that I collided with a telephone pole and bang the sound made me look here and there, I realised what had happened only when I saw my brother holding my head and saying can't you see whats in front of you when walking.
One can find trivial things to engage and entertain oneself like children are able - like they could stand up and watch two stray dogs figting on the road side, when returning from school, and hooting the aggressive one and encouraging the other to buck up.
It is the ability to enjoy life as a neutral observer that is perhaps the secret of happiness children muster themselves if allowed to be on their own instincts.