The following “letter” is part of the continuing series from the unpublished novel by James Garrett, “Benicia Letters Once More”. He does not plan to publish the book but instead is choosing to share the letters with the readers of the Benicia Herald. The letters continue the storyline of Garrett’s first novel “Benicia and Letters of Love”. Each “letter” tells of love in one of its many forms from a separate point of view. Benicia is represented prominently in the letters because of Garrett’s deep fondness for the city of Benicia. He hopes readers see themselves or others they know in the letters because the concept of “Love” is universal.

Mr. Garrett,
One of the loves I hold for Benicia is watching little kids walk by our home on their way to or from school. They are walking measuring sticks. At a certain time of the year they pass at regular times in the morning and the afternoon. At another time of the year, the summer, their appearance is random. I love watching them. They are some of the children of Benicia.
It is amazing to see the little kids grow year-after-year. At times it is a single child, at other times two or three or four. First they walk by with their parent or a resident adult. In a way I’m very happy to see that. In another way it saddens me if their loved one must walk with the child to provide protection. It isn’t the time in which I grew as a child in Benicia. A special joy is seeing a young mother with what must be her first child. It is a beautiful scene. The walk with the adult continues with some when they start elementary school. Then the time comes for each when they make the walks alone or with other children.
Each walk to school is a new awakening. With a little imagination an observant person can see the anticipation in the faces of the children. The kids are all so fresh and clean though styles have changed through the years as styles will. They are either looking forward to something of which they are aware, or looking forward to whatever will be new and exciting. Some kids seem to almost sprint in their small steps to get to school. A few of the older kids ride bicycles which is a good old-fashioned scene. Many of us in the past rode bicycles to elementary school.
Something which is so cute anyone with a heart must love it is seeing the kid who is obviously late for school and is trying to get there as fast as he can. Occasionally there are some who walk as if getting to school isn’t something they really want to do.
I don’t stand looking out a window every Monday through Friday from September into June, but many times my daily activities lead me to do so. Often in the afternoon I’m taking care of the front yard when some of them come by.
Sometimes I get the chance to engage in a few words of conversation. I simply say “Hello” or “How was school today?”
A few undoubtedly think I’m the weird old man of the block and are a little shy, bashful, or even wary about talking to me. It is obvious they have been told to not talk with strangers. In a way that is good, but in a way it is a loss to them, their parents, society, and me. Some of those who are a little hesitant at first open up as time goes on.
Other kids may have been told the same thing, but it is immediately apparent they are individuals with more of an openness, trust, and curiosity. They show a little spunk and speak right up from the first time we see each other and engage me in a few fleeting moments of conversation.
Each Halloween little gremlins in disguise come to our home and I pass out the candy when they climb the steps to our door. Always three or four are those I spoke with as they walked to or from school. Often the adult or adults in their life stand on the sidewalk.
When it comes time for Girl Scout cookies to be sold or time for a school fund raiser some of those same faces appear at our front door. A few years ago three who I recognized stood on our front porch selling my wife and I their current fund raiser. We talked with them for a few minutes as she and I selected just the right item. When they started to leave one turned to another and said, “I told you they would buy something.”
I can almost predict the stages the children are in as they grow through the years. That it can be seen in their growth is a given. It can also be seen in their awareness of the world around them, their attire, and what they carry. All are signs of growth.
A person with a little world awareness can see the entire range of people walk by, if they observe the young people. That one is going into some line of work dealing with people, that one loves animals, that one is either going to become the class bully or the protector of the community and the country. It is all obvious by watching them.
For some of the children, Benicia must have only been a stopover point in their journey through life, or they moved to another part of town. I know that because they are regulars walking down our block and then are never seen here again.
I hope I haven’t rambled on here like the old nostalgic man. I’ve probably been thinking too much. I have no more kids of my own, but I love watching the kids of other Benicians.
I still hear the voices of young kids passing by our home in the morning and in the afternoon.
Unsigned

James Garrett is a lifelong resident of Benicia and a former teacher at Benicia High School. He is the author of the following novels: “Benicia and Letters of Love,” “The Mansion Stories,” “Chief Salt,” and “One Great Season, 9-0!” He also compiled a three-volume work titled “The Golden Era: Benicia High School Football, The 1948 through 1960 Seasons, “A” History with Comments.”
He can be contacted at jgstoriesnpoetry@aol.com.

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