my encounter with the seed of distrust

The seed of distrust gives birth to the tree of suspicion and the fruits of scepticism. 



A kid held his mother's hand tightly in a busy Chinese hawker store. Wanting to make her make her order in the pan mee stall, she needed to ensure that she has everything in her hands kept safely. There she held in her hand was her car keys. 


As she tries looking for a space to place her keys nicely, her little 5 year old son, or at least to me he seemed 5, noticed. That little child enthusiastically flung his hand off the grip of his mother and stretched open his small little navy blue shorts pocket out wide. 


"Mommy. I have pocket. Put in here mommy, put in here. I keep for you, want or not?"


I was so moved by his gesture. It's been a while since I last witnessed such pure and genuine sincerity. I waited patiently for what his mother's response


"Heh heh. Keep for me? You will lose it. I know. Don't want, don't want. You definitely will lose mommy's keys. Mommy knows very well. Come on, let's go"



I thought to myself.....What would become of him when he grows up. That even in the days of youth he has been convinced that his magical navy blue pocket isn't good enough to handle a set of small keys. 




The seed of distrust, unfortunately, has been sown....