The boy, he couldn't have been more than 4, head down, intent, totally focused, nearly collided, head-on,bang into Sarah's wheelchair. Just at the last moment, he swerved sharply left, and, still stepping carefully to avoid the cracks between the floor tiles, he was off after his Mum, shopping in Meadowhall. (Shopping centre. Mall. In Sheffield.)
We were amused at the lad's total concentration on the task that he'd set himself. Utterly oblivious to all else. His brain buzzing with the skills. Did he share, with his Mum, his triumph in not stepping on a single crack? Did she congratulate him for achieving such a challenging goal?
What was going on in his head? How was his brain growing and developing and changing with the learning? What was he learning about what he could do and what could achieve and who he was? How important was his Mum's praise? Or did she tell him "Look where you're going. You nearly walked into that lady's wheelchair!" We guessed she enjoyed her young explorer conquering and making his world, as much as we did.
Sarah watched him, with us, for a moment more, then we headed on, smiling, to the coffee shop.