The high school up the road put on Beauty and the Beast. It was incredible. I was sitting with Benjamin, who literally knows the movie by heart. At least, I think he does. But what I am sure of is that the story is branded on his heart. He knows what it means to have fierce emotions, and to be misunderstood. Benjamin aches to be gentle, and generous. 

 

We both love plots with transformation in them. The Beast goes from angry, and demanding, to vulnerable. When he tells Belle to go find her father, Ben whispered to me. 

 

"It's the bravest thing he ever did."

 

Gaston, on the other hand, does not aspire to altruism. The student portraying him was absolutely convincing is his narcissism, and did not budge an inch even as he pranced across the stage. 

 

"He's a jerk!" Ben told me. 

 

The scene that made me cry, was when Belle and the Beast were enjoying dinner. Mrs. Potts was singing about this miracle, the one we are all invited to be part of. Maybe it is as simple as listening when you want to walk away, or admitting that we do not have all the answers.