This morning I was starting out on my run when I passed two boys, about age 13, in their khaki school uniforms. Short-sleeved shirts and pants, black belt and shoes. A few seconds after passing them, I heard a noise behind me and noticed one was running a few paces behind me. At first, I thought nothing of it, or maybe just that he was trying to catch a bus.

Then, I heard, “Excuse me Miss.” I stopped and turned to face him. “Yes? Good morning,” I said, expecting him to ask for $100 for bus fare or something to eat. “Where are you from?” he said, “London or the U.S.?”

I laughed and said “Neither, I’m from Canada.” At this point, his friend had caught up to us. He told me that he had seen the Canadian flag on my t-shirt (I was wearing a Cuso t-shirt) and thought I might be from Canada. He was holding a small shoebox-sized box with a pencil drawing of a skull wearing a top hat on it. It was a mini stage, I then noticed, with “Slim Shady” written on it as well. I asked him what it was for and he said it was for a class. This boy was tall and slim with the beginnings of a goatee. The other boy was shorter and stockier.

They were both watching me intently but seemed to have nothing more to say. Apparently they just wanted to know where I came from. I told them to have a good day and ran off. Another lovely moment.