A man sat in his cramped airline seat,
His teeth chattering,
Biting down on his haggard fingernails
He had never flown before
And he never planned on it
But with the passing of a close relative
He had to take his first flight from Philly
Back to his hometown in Washington state.

Next to him sat a young boy,
who appeared to be much to young
To be by himself on this 737
The man just turned away from the young mans face
And went back to his nail biting

The boy tapped the man on the shoulder,
And he said
"Sir, I know this is scary, but there's no need
To be afraid
I've done this a hundred thousand times
Enough to know that we'll arrive
Exactly thirteen minutes late."

The man was stunned, this boy
This... small man
Enunciated his words like that of an Elder
The man turned to him, and said
"I'm sorry young man, I just can't help this
My whole life I've been isolated,
Closed off, like a shellfish"

The boy turned his head from his window and he said
"Sir, There's no need to fear the events that will unfurl,
Because you know when the oyster opens up
All that's revealed is the pearl."

And suddenly, the man felt none of the fear
He'd been living in for all these years
He rested comfortably, no longer fighting tears
His cycle was broken, the moment was chosen
When he leant the child his ear