Life Lesson #4: Paths

Theres two paths we get to choose to walk down. The path society designed for us and you customized, and the path you designed for yourself from scratch. There comes these certain points where both of these paths become parallel to each other, where both sides take a glimpse at what’s really going on at the opposite end. And no matter how content, happy, and engaged we are with our current choice, for a brief moment you long for the path you didn’t choose. It’s not because you’re unsatisfied with what you have going for you, it’s just you start to think about the possibility of being completely different. Different will always seem exciting. 

For me, different is settling down. Focusing on a career, not a job. Thinking about starting a family, and start dating people with the potential of helping me run a family instead of helping me run away from family. I love where i’m at in my life, truly I do. I love having the ability to up and leave whenever I choose and having my only dependent being a dog. I enjoy the low maintenance of my life, and the fact that I can pack up the entirety of it in one suitcase and a backpack. But lately, especially after I turned twenty-five, whenever the month of my birthday ticks around, both paths show themselves. And like every time, different.. seems exciting. I start wondering about jumping trails. 

I never do of course. Because as I stated before, I love where i’m at. That doesn’t mean i’ll love where i’ll be later on though. People progressively change, and so do our wants. And I think that’s okay. It’s okay to switch what you want to do and what path you end up following. It doesn’t make you a sell out, a conformist, an idealist, and any other “ist” word you replace it with. One isn’t more noble than the other. Just be happy you’re around each day to decide and continue down whatever path you choose. You’re not giving up if you switch, and you’re not mundane if you stay where you are. 

Kids these days.

I was sitting behind the counter watching over the comic store like Batman watches over Gotham (not really, I was actually making my Magneto action figure fight my Wolverine action figure) when this kid decides to take off with some comics tucked in his shirt. I did an awesome swift ninja step to cut him off from the front door (our door is like 600lbs, trying to open it is practically like trying to push Hulk out of the way in and out, so it delays people. I have no idea if thats the purpose of the door besides just being an asshole). He was like, best guess, maybe 13 years old. One of my regular customers helped me box him in so he wouldn’t take off again.

The kid immediately dropped 5 comics on the floor and pleaded not to call the cops. Surprisingly I don’t have a lot of shoplifters, mainly because we have a lot of regulars, and a lot of adults. If anything we just have people that come in, try to slyly read the comics behind some shelves, so i’m constantly throwing things at our racks like, “hey buddy! buy it and take it home!” I looked down at the comics he dropped, they were all Daredevil. I looked at my regular costumer, showed him the comics, and we both looked at the kid and said, “Really?” The kid, even though he was on the brink of handcuffs, smacked his lips and said, “judge me all you want, I don’t care, man. Daredevil is the shit!” I shook my head, I said, “these aren’t even good ones, if you’re going to steal you might as well go for the better ones.” He just puffed out his chest and told me to call the cops already. 

I asked, “how much money you got on you?” He rummaged through his jean pockets and slumped over with two dollars in his hand, “I can’t pay for them.” I took the two dollars and gave him two of the comics and told him to beat it. I put my hands on my hips and with a stern voice said, “go away and if you come back, come back with money and not your track legs or I will call the cops.” He swiftly ran by me and left the store. I started putting the comics he stole back on the shelf, the guy who helped me walked over and said, “you’re really nice for doing that, you know he probably didn’t deserve it though, he’ll probably steal again.” I just shrugged my shoulders and said, “everyone needs a second chance sometimes, even a kid who steals Daredevil comics.” 

I used to be that kid. I stole one time in my life when I was younger, and of all things, a yoyo. I didn’t have enough money for it, but I really couldn’t imagine my life without it. It would light up when it rolled out and made noises when it spun, it was literally the coolest thing in the world to me. So I went into the store, and stole it. But just like that kid, the owner caught me before I got to make the quick getaway out into the congested streets. He cornered me, and with the same stern voice asked me why I stole from him and how much money I had on me. I handed him over everything I had, he tossed me the yoyo and told me not to come back unless I was capable of being a paying customer. It was probably the most scared I have ever been in my life. I saw my entire 10 years of life flash before me and the look on my fathers face with disappointment. Even though he could have easily called the police on me, and have my dad hear from them that their daughter was a thief, he didn’t. He cut me a break. Gave me a second chance. This was me paying it forward. 

Although, for the next kid that comes in my shop and tries to run off with some comics tucked under his shirt won’t be so lucky. The ‘Get Out of Jail Free Card’ has already been used up. And sadly, its been used on Daredevil.