Sharing an Umbrella

In the picture, two primary school students are sheltering under a single umbrella at the edge of a covered walkway while it rains heavily. They are standing close together so that both stay under it, with their school bags on their backs. The ground around them is wet and rain is falling steadily. What I also noticed is that one of them is holding the umbrella tilted towards the other, so he is keeping his friend dry even though part of his own shoulder is getting wet.

This reminds me of a time I forgot my wallet on an excursion day and had no money for lunch. I did not tell anyone because I felt embarrassed, but my friend noticed I was not buying anything and simply bought an extra packet of noodles and put it in front of me without making it a big thing. He never mentioned it again afterwards. I have never forgotten that, mostly because of the way he did it rather than what he gave me.

I feel small acts of kindness are remembered because they are unexpected. Nobody has to share an umbrella or buy someone lunch, so when a person does it anyway, it tells you something about who they are rather than about what was required. They also usually happen when we are struggling, and we remember how people treated us at those moments far more clearly than at ordinary times. Most importantly, a small kindness tells us that someone noticed us, and being noticed is something people remember for a very long time.