Crosswalk Lessons

Author: Jordan McNeil

Every morning, I walk my little brother to school. He’s eight, and every day, he forgets to look both ways before crossing the street. “I got it, I got it,” he says, as cars whiz past.

At first, I used to grab his backpack and pull him back, annoyed that he never listened. But one morning, I realized he was watching me, not the cars, not the light — me. He was waiting for me to move first.

That day, I stopped being just the older sibling. I became someone he trusted to lead. It’s strange how growing up happens; not in big moments, but in small crosswalks, with tiny hands holding yours.