It’s a beautiful late spring day at the beach. Not too hot, but the sun beams with comfort.
Pete and I take a walk. This is Pete’s first ever trip to a beach. He’s being a good boy, but I know that if I ever took him off this leash, he’d go nuts. The excitement is barely controlled.
Nobody else is out here. But I look a few hundred yards down the beach and see a piece of driftwood. Sitting on that piece of driftwood appears to be a young boy — maybe seven or eight.
But the way the kid looks seems awfully familiar to me. Brown curly hair, broad nose, round head.
Could this be…
I approach the piece of driftwood and make eye contact with the kid.
“How’s it goin’?” I said. Pete’s chomping at the bit to get at him. “Be nice, buddy.”
“I’m okay,” he says tentatively.
“Where’s your family?”
“I don’t know. They left.”
“I’m sorry. You okay?”
“I’m fine.” Something about the way he said that appeared to be a little disingenuous.
“Do you mind?” I ask and indicate that I want to sit next to him. He says nothing verbally, but I think he needs the company. “What’s your name?”
This appears to be a child with more than a healthy fear of strangers. It’s good for kids to be wary of strangers, especially with some strange guy sitting on a driftwood next to you. But he’s straight up scared.
“It’s okay. I think you need to know me,” I said.
“R-Ryan,” he finally said.
“I’m so happy to meet you. You’ll never believe this. But I think I’m you.”
Young Ryan looks back at me with wide-eyed amazement. Or is it confusion?
“How can you be me? I’m me.”
“How can I prove this? Let me ask you this, what grade are you in?”
“I’m about to start third grade.”
“You had Mrs. Richardson, didn’t you? For second grade.” That got him. He seems to get something. “And you didn’t like her very much.”
“She scared me a little bit.”
“Your third-grade teacher’s gonna be Mrs. Booth and she’s gonna end up being one of your favorite teachers of all time. Even when you’re an old man like me. And I am truly sorry about Joy and Carey. They were amazing people and they loved you so very much.”
Young me looks back at me like he’s so lost. But he’s also quite the shy child, so he may just be intimidated by me.
“I’m confused. How can you be me?”
“I’m you at 40 years old.”
He looks back at me and seems to be amazed.
“You don’t look old?”
“That’s because I’m not.” I have to say, I’m really impressed by Pete. He’s usually wild and crazy around little kids, but he’s so reserved right now. He knows.
“Where’d you come from?”
“This is called circular logic, son.”
“Wait…”
“Can we talk?” Little me nods. He seems a little unsure, but he’s willing. “I want to tell you how you end up.”
“How I end up?”
“Yeah, this is how you end up. I mean, how I end up. Do you know how big and strong you grow up to be?” Little Ryan looks back at me with a little confusion. “You have a good imagination, right?”
“I mean, yeah. But I don’t know if it’s a good thing.”
“That’s not important. Trust me, it’s good. You grow up big and strong.”
“The kids at school say I’m fat. Say I’ve got a big head.”
“C’mon, stay with me. You’re big, strong, and you’re so smart. You’re so smart, Ryan.”
“Do people tell me I’m smart?”
“You know it. You feel it.”
“That’s cool, I guess.”
“It gets better. I wrote a book that smart people can buy and read.”
“You wrote a book?!”
“No, YOU wrote a book.”
“I mean, that’d be cool and all to write a — “
“Ryan, you wrote a book. People have read it. And people like it. And you’re gonna write more.”
“Wow?! Really?”
“It gets even better. You’re gonna write for a really cool and smart website that people around the world can read.”
“What’s a website?”
“Oh yeah, I forget I’m from the future. Or you’re from the past. I can’t remember. Anyway, it’s a good thing.”
“It’s cool. You’re cool.”
“No, you’re cool. Guess where you live? You live near New York.”
“My mom says that Yankees are bad.”
“Your mom — my mom — is so proud of where I live. She’s proud of us.”
“Dad hates the Yankees.”
“It’s just baseball, son. And, you want to know something cool? You’re gonna help a lot of people be great.”
“How?”
“Ever hear of life coaching?”
“No…”
“Believe me, you will,” I get down and take a knee in front of little Ryan. To get down on his level. “Can you listen to me?”
“Uh-huh.”
“You are amazing. I know you’re scared. I know you’re worried. I know you’re sad. Sometimes life is sad. Sometimes life can scare you. Sometimes life can be scary. But know this — and believe me when I say this — I got you. I need you to be strong. I need you to be brave. And I need you to stay exactly who you are. You’re such a sweet little guy. That’s gonna help you — or me — be a daddy one day ourselves. You’re so smart. You’re so brave. And you’re gonna change the world. Just by being you. You don’t need to be afraid anymore. You don’t need to be afraid of girls. You can do anything! None of what’s happening right now is your fault. You’re so powerful and inspiring and beautiful and I’m so proud of you! If nobody tells you ever again, know that I am proud of you.”
Little Ryan just looks back at me. He still seems confused.
“Who are you?”
“I get it. You don’t believe me. Do me a favor. In a couple years, listen to your granddaddy. Those aren’t just lightning bugs.”
Pete and I get up and start to walk away. Then I hear footsteps behind me when…
I turn around and see little Ryan leap into my arms. He’s crying pretty hard.
“I’m really gonna write a book?”
“Smart people are gonna love you so much. I love you so much.”
“Love you too.”
From the distance, we hear:
“Ryan!”
“Mom’s calling. Gotta go,” Little Ryan runs away.
“Hey kid?” He stops and turns around. “Say hi to mom and dad for me.”
I look down the beach and see mom and dad. Mom has Ivy in her arms. And dad has Cotton on a leash.
“Who was that?” I could hear Dad ask.
“He says he’s me from the future.”
“Shut up Ryan,” Mom says playfully.
If he only knew…
