Good Guys

The question burned within him. Soon it would become too hot to hold, leaping from his mouth and into the world to be misunderstood. There was only one person he could ask. A short freckled child waited for the perfect moment.

Three more turns. Their family was almost always one of the first to arrive. He knew why, his dad wanted to talk to everyone before the service. Even if the person seemed to not want to talk. His father would still be himself trying to brighten the person’s day. Sometimes it worked. The clever tradesman knew when to move to the next person who someday may become his friend. Overall, most people smiled back when they first saw him.

Two more turns and the small truck would pull into the lot, parking in one of the backspaces. The pair made sure to leave the good spaces for people who actually needed them. He knew after the service, they would not leave for a bit. How long was anyone’s guess. His dad would talk for a while and help out if he could. The boy had overhead others call his dad, “a good guy.”

At the final turn, you can already see the steeple. The modern-day church was a single-story building. The oak doors seemed oversized. The large front yard was level and kept neatly mowed. The grass gave an illusion that it never grew.

Pulling into the lot the small boy’s question broke through, “Dad, everyone always talks about bad guys. What you see in the news and on people’s phones are bad guys.” He paused for a very brief second. “Where are the good guys?”

The man who offered smiles to people with frowns had a very basic answer.

“We are the good guys.” He paused the same brief second his son had. “Try to do a little good with a smile. Don’t do more. People choose to save themselves.”

The boy asked his question again. He did not know how to change it to make more sense. “There are bad guys on the t.v. and phone more than good guys.”

“People focus on the bad. Lot’s of people do. Let’s go focus on the good.” He adjusted his gloves.

“That does not tell me why there is so much bad.” The boy stuttered for the first time, now regretting asking a question that he somehow had to.

“What is bad right now?” The father and son looked around. He waited for a very long few seconds. “I don’t see any either. I only see good.”

The duo shared the same smile.

Never give up on life. Never give up on love.

That’s it, that’s all:

-Nathan Hall