Hope floats

This is for Rudra. He is a 4 year old autistic boy who lives close by.
I was witness to a small episode in Rudra's life yesterday and it has stayed with me. He was out with his walker yesterday, a steel frame structure designed to help small kids with muscle co-ordination challenges. His parents by his side.
He had a small step to tackle to get to the level platform infront. He had to pick his walker and put it on the step and then pull himself up along. His parents stood by and watched... as he struggled.
His father would pick up the walker slightly time and time again... to demonstrate, to hint. But he did not pick it up for Rudra. He did not HELP. His mother stood some distance away and kept enthusing him... saying his name again and again and beckoning him. No one HELPED.
And you'd think that they should have lifted that damn walker and put it up for him... they should have taken his hand and helped him up and let him walk.
Minutes passed. And I had to give it to these two souls for their patience. For the infinite love they must have inside to not help the struggling child, probably in pain. For holding on... for what seemed like forever.
Just when I thought it probably wont happen today, he did it. He lifted the walker and walked onto the platform. and he ran... can you believe it... he actually ran and ran. He looked back and screamed with laughter.
He is my favorite person rt now, specially after the way he waved and smiled at me today morning. Courage comes in many forms... like a 4 year old with clear eyes and toothy grin.