Glimpse: Independence

On weekends the university grounds are mostly empty and the old man often took the little girl for a walk around the trees, through the courtyards, around the fountains and avenues, and up the steps.

Mostly the little girl ran free and decided where the pair would go, but the old man became anxious when her way led to concrete steps - steps designed for bigger people - wide steps with hand rails only at the sides.

The old man had trained the little girl to hold his hand when they were walking along a road or in a car park or close to streams - and until that day the little girl had seen steep concrete steps as a place to hold his hand.

Not that day.

- Hold my hand.

- No.

- You've got to hold hands if you want to climb the steps.

So she did. Clasping her hands in front of her, she turned to the old man.

- I hold my own hand.