I was so scared

Journal (sometime in the not too distant future)

I was so scared tonight. I was coming home after baseball practice with my dad tonight and we saw police lights behind us. I remembered seeing all those bad police men on TV but before I could say anything I heard my dad. He didn’t look back at all, he just told me to pretend to be asleep and not to move at all. It was his serious voice, like when I don’t listen to mom. All I could say was, “Yes Sir!”

I closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep. I felt the light on my face when the officer walked up. When I peeked I saw one of my father’s hand on the steering wheel and his other hand out the window with his driver’s license.

My father’s always been super friendly, but all I heard him say was “Yes, sir.” and “No, sir.” The police man asked a bunch of questions. He even asked who I was. Then I heard my dad again. He told me I was doing a good job and we’ll be driving home soon.

The police man came back and looked at me again. The light was so bright it made the inside of my eyes look pink. He got my dad to sign something and said to drive slower.

I get so scared when I hear the police cars now. My parents talked to me again when we got home about how to talk to the police man and never to be out alone.

There is a good chance you remember the story of Anne Frank. If the xenophobic attitudes are allowed to continue and become mainstream, we may have a generation of Anne Franks. They will sweep across cultures, religions, ethnicities, and gender.

Prevention is simple. Get to know your neighbor. Help a stranger. Talk to people. Engagement reduces ignorance.