Learning in hindsight

I am currently writing a feature story on a cancer fighter. This fighter isn't just another fighter though, he is a ten year old boy. He loves to do ten year old boy things: explore in the woods, beat his older brothers in video games, collect $200 when he zooms passed GO in Monopoly.

When I went to interview him, I felt like an intruder. I was some girl he had never met before sitting at his kitchen table drilling him with questions. After I left the interview, I realized how I should have started it. (Learning in hindsight..the best and worst way to learn. It is the best way to learn because you always learn something, yet it is the worst because you usually learn from big mistakes.)

I start my interviewing process by pointing out the elephant in the room. I went straight for the meat of the story without getting to know the person. I asked about his cancer, which he understandably did not want to talk to an intruder about. That set the precedent for the rest of the interview. I saw a brave boy hiding behind the only thing he could find, fear, not of his battle but of me.

His parents have been so gracious in answering questions and openly sharing his story with me. They have also said I can come back for round two. I think this time, I will start with a game of Monopoly. No pen, no paper, no questions. Just friends.

I like this kid, and I will write a good story for him. You can read it in one of my future posts!