One of the best storytellers I have ever known.
Is my friend Pete Zulu.
Because he can capture a feeling in just a few words.
Interpretation.
This tiny snippet is something that Pete wrote on his Instagram page next to a lovely photograph.
A photograph that Pete had taken.
I must stress that I will almost certainly have interpreted Pete’s words incorrectly.
But, on occasions like this, incorrectly is fine.
Because however Pete told the story, I interpreted it in my own personal way.
And that’s the point, I think.
Candles.
There’s a photograph of a young child on Pete’s Instagram page.
I can’t remember who it is.
But he looks worried.
Beautiful.
But troubled.
The caption, written (probably quite badly but brilliantly all at the same time – a rare skill) by Pete went like this.
It was a simple question that this worried, 4(ish) year old boy had asked.
It was:
Who will blow out my birthday cake candles if I die?
I have no idea what prompted this question.
And it doesn’t matter.
Because, if you are anything like me you will feel something about this question.
And death.
And childhood.
And innocence.
And fear.
And loneliness.
And how we all germinate ideas and fears – good and bad – whatever our age, inside our heads.
I hope that, like me, you are smiling.
And that you feel affection for this boy.
And for all young people.
And that you remember how lovely it is to engage with innocent minds.
To help them.
And – importantly – to re-learn, from them, how to think beautifully again.
Anyhow.
That’s what I took from this.
And, of course, it was a nice reminder about Pete’s beautiful mind.
Photograph.
Please.
If you are reading this in your email.
Take a look at Pete’s photograph, too: https://www.50odd.co.uk/candles/
