A gentleman at the age of 5

Carl Jung once said, "In early childhood, the character is already there."

This statement came to my understanding, only in retrospect.

Picture a cold morning, 15 children lining up ready to enter breakfast club. All had their gloves and scarves on, ready to wrap their hands around a carton of milk and a warm slice of toast.

Yet, the one-child that caught my full attention that morning was Adam.

Adam was a 5-year-old Chinese boy.  Small frame, highlighted by the way his blazer hung. He had straight, shiny black hair that would swing from side to side with every run he made. Part of my job was to keep them safe, so I reminded him to not run in the corridor because he could get hurt.  

Every single morning he would draw out a tube map of the London underground.

Then straight after, he would run, grab at my hand so he could explain why the Bakerloo line was brown and Central was red. I was impressed by his attention to detail at the tender age of 5.  

On this one occasion, he put drawing time aside to focus on his girlfriend, Serene.

Serene was a lovely 6-year-old Moroccan girl who mainly cared for colouring anything outside the lines. She was far less expressive compared to Adam.

Taking time off from drawing a tube map was a big deal for Adam. He had not missed one morning.

Hand in hand, he and Serene waltzed their way to the start of the cue. I'd asked what he wanted for breakfast?

He replied with a slight lisp, "toast with strawberry jam, please, Kodia."

Serene giggled and added:  "Me, too." I want the same!"

"Coming right up", I  replied.

And as if butter would not melt, they skipped to their seats, hand in hand giggling whilst whispering little things in each other's ears.

He had stopped to pull out her chair and tuck her in before sitting himself down.

Again, he had no colours in his hand. Instead, it was all eyes on Serene.  He would point to the stem and offer a colour he thought was right. She would squint her eyes and follow through.  

Adam's toast arrived first, but he paused, looked up and said, "Kodia, is Serene's coming?" I said, "of course, one more minute."

He decided against taking the first bite and gave his toast to Serene.

I could not believe it. Not only had he pulled out her chair, but he had also offered her his food?

Who was this child? And how do I adopt him?!  

Within that moment, he'd shown more character than I'd seen in the last 18 years of my life.

They were going strong until later that week.

It was a Friday. The atmosphere involved less skipping & Adam was back to drawing.  

He looked noticeably sadder compared to the start of the week.

Could it be because  Serene was sitting with Mustafa instead? We'll never know.

What became true in that moment was that Adam's little heart was 'broken'.

I was organising some papers when a small hand tugged at my shirt. It was Adam. He kept pulling until I crouched to meet him at eye level.

I'd noticed he had a small tear hanging on to the side of his eye.

He said, "Kodia... *whilst pausing to sniff up the last bogger *

Serene doesn't want to be my girlfriend anymore"... then let the tears run, and I mean run.  

"Oh Adam", I replied, whilst handing him the box of kleenex. I told him it's going to be okay (what else can you say to a heartbroken 5-year-old?)

I let him know how strong, kind and smart he was. Because that is exactly who he was.

Once the tears stopped, he again took my hand and sat me down on the miniature seats to draw.

This time I said, "can you draw me the Overground Map instead?"

Pure joy came over his face as he replied: "anything for you, Kodia."

Ps: The following week, Serene apologised, and they returned to bouncing around in a state of joy.

That is the innocence of children. They forgive and let go with ease.