For the Children

Some lucky children will receive their first bikes today.

Yellow police tape blocked off the parking lot last Sunday, but there was no emergency. Redwood City was celebrating El Día de los Ninos, the Day of the Child, one day early with games, food, and gifts. Friendly public servants showed-and-told about the latest in fire and rescue equipment while music played over the speakers.

Teenagers at the booths distributed commemorative T-shirts, while other youthful attendees evinced remarkably polite behavior. We waved at the smiling police officers (whose presence probably had some influence on the crowd’s decorum) and would have loved to join the party, but there was work to be done.

Half the people have been served, and there was enough for seconds.

We drove around to the back of the community center and carried our dishes of lasagna, rolls, and salad to the serving tables. 60 people who had fallen on hard times patiently waited in line. By custom families with children were at the front, while single men brought up the rear. We greeted the old familiar faces who thanked us for the hot meal. We thanked them for allowing us to share our Sunday with them.

The teenagers in our group had expressions that showed that they would have rather been somewhere else, but they gamely ladled the food and poured the drinks. Years from now, when they reflect on the moments of their lives, let’s hope that this is one they will remember. © 2007 Stephen Yuen

Railcars parked behind the community center.