Your Helmet

My one neighbor Greg is always wearing this helmet whenever I see him out and about, even on his way to and from work.  I don't quite understand.  It’s not like it provides any real protection since it's certainly not metal although it's painted to emulate it and could pass for a real movie prop from an old sword and sandals film.  I asked him about it offhandedly once and he told me it just makes him feel powerful.  Taking him at his word, I figured it to be nothing more than a harmless quirk.

One day while walking my dog, I overheard some neighbors.  Apparently, one of their kids made himself a helmet out of paper and was running around emulating Greg.  By their tone, I could surmise that this had been deeply upsetting to them.  The way they spoke, it was as if the kid had committed a cardinal offense, but I couldn’t figure out why before I was soon out of earshot and didn't want to risk being caught out as a nosey neighbor.

After overhearing that conversation, I began to notice just how all my other neighbors looked at Greg; a mixture of apprehension and disdain with the occasional twinge of fear when he would break out his hedge clippers.  This puzzled me more than Greg and his helmet.  Why were they so concerned?  Sure, it was eccentric, but it wasn't like he was hurting anyone.

Greg noticed me staring the other day.  I didn't even realize that I was until I noticed him staring back at me.  Fortunately, he smiled and pointed at his helmet, giving me a thumbs up.  Without thinking much of it at the time, I returned the gesture before going about my day as normal.  

The very next day, I heard a loud knock on my door and there he was, helmet and all.  He stood with his arms tucked behind his back, hiding something with an enormous grin plastered on his face.  Before I could ask, he revealed what it was with a theatrical flair.  It was a helmet just like his, offered outstretched in front of himself with his head bowed down at an angle.  It felt like I was being given a choice, one with life altering ramifications.  

To be continued…