Watch Him

Watch him...really watch him. He isn't check out. He isn't distracted. He isn't daydreaming.


He's observing.
Staring at the one star on the Karate room's map that is brighter than the other. Does it shine at night? Memorizing the color order of the belts and wondering when he will earn the camouflage one. Noticing his green stripe is not perfectly aligned and determined to fix this. Watching the class before him and memorizing their routines.

Watch him...really watch him. He isn't checked out. He isn't distracted. He isn't daydreaming.


He's listening.

Listening to the sound the Karate school's air conditioner is making. Why doesn't anyone else hear it? Listening to the noise his pants make when he does his jumping jacks. Listening for his daddy's applause when he completes his routine.


Watch him...really watch him. He isn't checked out. He isn't distracted. He isn't daydreaming.


He's thinking.

Thinking about ghosts and where they come from. Thinking about all the fire hazards in the room and his escape route should one be needed. Thinking about what his teacher said yesterday and what his Dad said last week. Thinking about what to call a car without any wheels or a pool without any water.

Watch him...really watch him. He isn't checked out. He isn't distracted. He isn't daydreaming.

Wait, now he is...