"Close the top of the box," seven-year-old Dylan said after he climbed in.
We were in the backyard. I watched as he climbed a Banyan Tree, swang down from a rope and ran as fast as he could to the fence and back to do it again. Three times. Out of breath, he saw a large box, climbed in and that's when he asked me to close the flaps.
"I'm going to calm down my breath. Time me."
Wordlessly I watched. I looked at my watch and stood nearby. A while later, I heard him whisper, "Are you still here, Grammie?"
"I am." From within the closed box, he asked, "How long have I been in here?"
"How long do you think you've been in there?"
"An hour?"
I reply, "Not that long."
"A half-hour?" he questions.
"You've been sitting in there for five minutes, ten seconds."
"My body is squished, but I'm going to stay for more time."
He did. At thirteen minutes thirty-three seconds, he stood up. His head popped out. I smiled at his smile. I asked if he had heard of Martin Luther King, Jr.
He nodded yes and said MLK told us to remember all people are equal. I told Dylan that there will be times when we might be upset as we help all people be equal.
"You did one of the important lessons King taught: be calm when you're uncomfortable. But it takes practice."
Dylan listened and said, "I practiced in the box for a long time."
