Justis and the Mime

Travis's mom and dad and sister Holly are visiting us here in Louisiana right now, and last night we went to the Mississippi Riverwalk that also borders the French Quarter.

The French Quarter is not what you would call a family-friendly place on Friday night. We chose to eat at the Hard Rock Cafe near the Riverwalk and avoid the heart of the French Quarter. We enjoyed a walk along the Mississippi and we and the kids got to see a jazz cruise riverboat leave the dock, which was fun.

We decided to walk around Jackson Square, which is "in" the French Quarter, but is a clean place. Jackson Square is fun, because people with special talents are always there performing with their money bucket in front of them. Most of these performers are amazing!

We were about to round our first corner on the square when I noticed a mime standing statuesqely facing the street. I said, "Oh, look Maddie! You will like this, come here." Travis saw the mime and said, "Justis, look at that man. Do you think it is a statue, or is he alive?"

Justis immediately stopped. His senses were heightened. He looked. The mime wasn't moving. I tried to start explaining to him what it was, but he was already finished. Done. He was backing away and planning his escape route while Travis and Scott tried to convince him it was okay to pass by. Travis immediately told me not to say any more about it and to go on by.

Justis was statuesque himself. He wasn't about to move by that strange man with white makeup all over his face and a funny hat. The fear in his eyes told me Justis was ready to run for his life and he was convinced that mime was their for one reason. He was sure he was going to turn and chase him at any moment.

Travis picked Justis up and I told Madalynn we would come back sometime and watch the mime so Justis wouldn't feel uncomfortable.

The mime was a wise man. I could tell he was thinking about starting his "act" as Madalynn and I approached and he heard me explaining to Maddie what he was. He was staring straight ahead in a frozen position. His eyes ever so slowly moved to look over at Justis, however, when he started crying. Madalynn and I were the only ones that saw this, because the rest of his body stayed perfectly still. He knew Justis was afraid and kindly chose not to move until Justis couldn't see him anymore.

I am very grateful to that mime for saving me from a child having nightmares about a mime in his sleep! Justis and I chatted about that mime today at lunch. I told him that maybe he and I can find a mime to watch on the Internet or something so he could see what they do and maybe we could go back to the Square and watch another time. He seemed perceptive. I'm going to give it some time, though!