I was waiting outside the corner store, scrolling mindlessly on my phone, when I noticed this little kid—couldn’t have been older than seven—walking across the parking lot.
At first, I figured he was just tagging along with someone, but he didn’t seem to be with anyone.
What caught my attention wasn’t just how small he looked standing there in his scuffed-up sneakers—it was who he walked up to.
Three police officers were gathered near their cruisers, chatting, sipping coffees.
You know how people usually give them a wide berth, especially around here.
But this boy?
He walked straight up, chin lifted like he had something important to say.
I stopped scrolling.
I couldn’t hear everything, but I saw him tug gently on the sleeve of one of the officers.
They all looked down, surprised, and leaned in.
Then the boy folded his hands together, closed his eyes, and—I swear—started praying out loud for them.
It wasn’t showy. It wasn’t rehearsed. Just this soft little voice saying something about keeping them safe, about their families, about “being kind.”
One of the officers knelt down to his level.
Another wiped at his eye like maybe something blew in it. They looked… stunned. Like no one knew how to react.
And right when I thought maybe his mom or dad would come running over, maybe to explain—nobody did.
No one seemed to know where the boy had come from.
But after the prayer, he thanked them, turned around, and walked off toward the far side of the lot, like he had somewhere else to be.
I stood there wondering if I should follow, maybe figure out who he was or if he needed help.
But before I could move, the sound of car doors slamming snapped me out of my thoughts.
The officers were still standing there, watching the child’s small form disappear behind a row of parked cars. I could see them exchange looks, almost like they were asking each other, “What just happened?”
I decided to walk around the building to see if I could find the kid. It’s not every day you see a little guy that brave, and something about him tugged at me.
Maybe it was how alone he seemed, or how determined he was. Either way, my feet started moving before I even fully realized I was going after him.
When I reached the far side of the parking lot, I saw the back of his head just as he crossed the street. My heart lurched a little.
Traffic wasn’t crazy, but you never know. I quickened my pace, calling out, “Hey, buddy—wait up!” But the kid didn’t turn around. He just kept walking, weaving through a small group of teenagers and past an older man pushing a shopping cart.
I picked up my stride and reached the curb right after he made it to the other side.
I looked both ways, waited for a small gap in the traffic, and hurried across. By the time I got to the next block, he was cutting through an alley. A hundred thoughts ran through my head: Was this safe?
Should I let him go? But curiosity won out. I kept following.
About halfway down the alley, I saw him crouch next to a chain-link fence.
There was a skinny cat on the other side, rubbing its face against the metal links. The boy stuck his fingers through, gently petting the cat’s head. That’s when I finally caught up, breathless.
“Hey,” I said softly, not wanting to startle him.
“You okay?”
He turned around, those wide eyes studying me carefully. He didn’t look scared. Just… calm, in a way that most kids his age aren’t.
He was wearing a faded green shirt that was a size too big, and jeans with holes at the knees. And those sneakers—definitely well-worn.
“Hi,” he said, standing up straight. He kept his gaze on me but didn’t say much else.
I realized then I should probably introduce myself.
“I’m Colin,” I offered. “I saw you pray for those officers back there. That was really brave.”
He shrugged, like it was the most natural thing in the world.
“I just wanted them to be safe,” he said. “My name’s Mateo.”
“Mateo,” I repeated. “That’s a nice name.
Are you out here by yourself? Do your parents know you’re—?”
He shook his head before I could finish. “I’m staying with my aunt.
She’s at work right now. I asked if I could go for a walk. She said yes, as long as I stayed where people could see me.”
I glanced around.
The alley was pretty deserted. Not exactly “public,” but I figured maybe he’d wandered off without realizing it. Kids do that.
But something about his composure struck me as unusual. Even adults get nervous in alleys, but he seemed at ease.
“Why’d you pray for those cops?” I asked, half out of curiosity and half trying to figure him out.
He shrugged again, this time with a small smile. “Because they take care of people, and sometimes people don’t like them for it.
My dad was a police officer,” he added quietly. “He taught me that being kind first can change how people see each other.”
I felt my stomach clench a bit. “Oh yeah?
Is your dad still—?”
“Not anymore.” His voice was steady, though it quivered at the edges. “He passed away last year.”
For a moment, I didn’t know what to say. “I’m sorry,” I managed, and I meant it.
He just nodded.
“Thanks. That’s why I pray for them. Somebody prayed for my dad, too, when he was on duty.
He said it made him feel less alone.”
I didn’t know this kid’s whole story, but I felt a rush of warmth in my chest. That simple act—praying for strangers in uniform—suddenly made even more sense. And it was more powerful than I could have imagined.
We spent a moment in silence, the only sound coming from that cat meowing softly behind the fence.
Then I gestured back toward the street. “Wanna walk together?” I asked. “I’ll make sure you get back to your aunt’s place, if you’d like.”
He nodd
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