Everything is Tainted

I walked to the library this beautiful day to pick up a couple of cds that I had on reserve. The library is super close which was useful when I had about 15 cds on reserve at once one time and had to make several trips in a row because they only let me take five out at a time. I left around 12, which I guess is lunch time. The fastest route to the library cuts through an elementary school field and because of the time all the kids were out on break playing. I always feel kind of weird going through large groups of small children because I remember when I was that size we were always cautious of older people. I'm obviously not dressed in a trench coat or anything but I still feel like maybe I shouldn't be walking through the school area when all the kids are playing mostly unsupervised. I make an effort not to pay attention to the children and walk around the large groups.

I made it to the library alright and picked up my cds. I got the new Stars album and an old White Stripes album, White Blood Cells. One of the dudes working at the library noticed and made a comment of approval about the White Stripes. I'm not really a fan of the White Stripes so I just nodded. Then I left.

I was walking back across the school field and now there were several soccer games going. I usually watch the kids play soccer while I'm walking by so that I don't get hit by the ball and also because it is sometimes entertaining. I make it through the first game without incident, witnessing an impressive goalie kick considering the size of the goalie. I'm getting closer to the second game and the action is looking like its going to intercept me on my path. I don't want to go around or wait so I just take my chance and go for it, maybe there will be a turnover or something. There isn't. I'm right in the middle of it when one of the kids makes a break for it and kicks the ball out front. He's running towards me and the ball is between us. I don't have time to get out of the way so I just dodge his kick at the last second. He kicked it pretty hard. I turn to watch the ball and right there maybe two metres behind me some small kid gets smoked in the face. The kid is down and almost immediately starts to cry. I know kids have a predisposition to cry, but to be fair it was a nasty hit.

Most of the kids nearby stop playing and wander over to watch. I had stopped walking since the kick and I'm not sure if I should just leave. On the one hand I don't want to abandon someone in pain, but then its also not my responsibility and I don't want to be a creepy stranger talking to little school children. I'm trying to figure out what to do and then I notice that most of the kids are looking at me, like its my fault or something, or maybe they're waiting for me to do something. I started feeling pretty uncomfortable. I was about to say something but then I didn't and I left. I could hear the kid still sobbing lightly as I walked away but there was nothing I could do. I'm sure he was fine, but I still feel bad about it. What could I do? I guess if it was a real emergency I could have stepped in, but it wasn't. Everything is tainted.