today in the subway i saw a little brother with an enormous backpack being led by an enormous older brother. the older brother was carrying the little brother's italian ice somewhat precariously in his other hand, and i started paying closer attention when the water ice dropped and the older brother stooped to clean up the mess / kick at it apologetically; the little brother began walking impossibly fast, and at first i thought he was reacting really well to his ice getting spilled on the subway floor.
but occasionally he would turn around, glance at the older brother, and speed up his pace. he sped-walked to his small round mother and began to frantically point at his enormous brother, his voice kind of reaching a desperate anxiety that he had done well to disguise after the initial ice-drop.
the little mother was hanging with some friends and in any case, was obviously unimpressed with little brother's whines and the defensive pleas of older brother.
it made me wonder how often we approach impervious third parties to deliver punishment or at least rulings when in fact greater clarity would involve looking said culprit in the face and getting so real - "you were careless. im sad"
but also i mean, what a bummer about your water-ice kiddo
