The Cowboy

After class one day, a boy approached with a question about To Kill A Mockingbird. Wearing cowboy boots, coupled with a trademark Stetson, he was a very quiet, respectful, and inquisitive kid, not the stereotypical raucous “outlaw” of notorious Texas legend.

He shared a personal story about an otherwise typical afternoon of stopping at his local ice house for a soda and a snack on the way home from school. This time though, while attempting to leave in his pick-up truck, he was harassed by a group of Black teenagers, taunting and ridiculing him for being a “kicker.” With more maturity than many adults, he left without getting into a fight or even saying a word.

But the incident still haunted him daily while reading about the noble Atticus Finch, defending a falsely accused Black man. Conflicted the boy sheepishly asked, “Why did those Black guys treat me like that? I was minding my own business, and they attacked me for no good reason.” His teacher responded, "You did the right thing by walking away. Why kill mockingbirds? Hate begets more hate."

Transformed, he replied, “Thank you ma’am,” and with a tip of his trademark Stetson, the young man headed home in his pick-up truck with a usual stop at the neighborhood ice house for a soda and a snack.