GETTIN' SOME

The other day, I drove up to my house with my girlfriend and we sat parked out front for a few minutes.  As we talked and said goodbye, one of the boys in the neighborhood rode up on his bike and pretended to go into the house.  As I kissed her goodbye and watched her drive away, I saw a little eye probing me behind the fence.  As I walked up to the house, he was all giggly and said, "I saw you gettin' some, don't act like you weren't." 

Somewhat caught off guard, I replied, "I wasn't getting some, I was just saying goodbye."  "Yeah yeah," he replied, "You were gettin' some."  

I went upstairs and thought about what he said.  And I haven't been able to shake it since.  I guess I just can't help but wonder at what things a nine-year-old has heard and experienced in order to view a romantic moment between a man and a woman as a transaction where one party gets something.   Like going to an ATM or something.  

And while chewing on it for the last two weeks or so, I haven't been able to help but notice the tv and newspapers, where they talk non-stop of cluture wars, satiating rabid political bases, skirmishes between liberals and conservatives over who has the right to want change more, wrangling over what party is more for change than the other, what candidate is less elitist and more hockey-momish than the other, and on and on til infinity.  And I can't help but wonder if we are all a little bit cooked.  

It's like we're distracting ourselves with God knows what issues in God knows where places for God knows what reasons when back on earth's solid ground right in front of our very eyes the real struggle is for a beautfiul child that has been bombarded with hurt and awfulness for nine years. 

To be fair, I understand issues are important.  No doubt.  But aren't nine-year-old boys in urban neighborhoods important, too?