It was troubling to see a little girl crying at the side of the road. Her tear stained face caused my heart to open up in sympathy for her unknown plight.
“What’s wrong little girl?”
She turned her face to me and stared for a moment. Her lower lip began to quiver. Mustering up some courage she said, “I lost my mommy.”
I thought it over for a few seconds trying to understand what she meant by that statement. Was she out with her mom and got separated from her? Did the little girl’s mother die?
“Where is your mommy?”
“At home,” she said.
“Is she all right?”
“She is ok,” she said. Her head bent down and hands came to her face. A little whine escaped from her. The familiar sound of soulful desperation as her thoughts played the loss in her mind once more.
“Aw now, don’t cry, if your mommy is at home, why do you think you lost her?”
“I heard my mommy say to my daddy that she is going to have another baby.” The girl looked to me hoping I would understand. That somehow I would be able to set things right. A knight come to rescue the damsel in distress.
I suppressed a smile that tried to make its way to my face.
“Why is that a bad thing, your mommy having another baby?”
“Because,” she said, “my mommy doesn’t like me anymore. I must have done something awfully wrong. She wants to get rid of me. She doesn’t need another baby. I’m her baby.”
Now it became clear to me what her problem was. Relief started to fill my mind. The problem was just a misunderstanding. “I think you got things mixed up a little. I am sure that your mommy loves you. A whole lot.”
She looked up to me with pleading eyes. “Then why does she want another baby?”
I smiled at the little girl. Using as soothing a voice as I could muster, I said, “Your mommy loves you a whole bunch. She wanted to get you a present. Something so special it would last a lifetime. She could think of nothing better, nothing prettier, nothing as wonderful, as giving you a friend. Someone just like you. Someone you could play with. Someone with whom you can share stories.”
Her mind tried to grasp this new possibility. You could see the struggle on her face.
After some moments she asked, “Do you really think that is the truth?”
“I have just met you. I think you are a wonderful little girl. I am certain that the new baby is a special gift for you. Your daddy and mommy will do what they can for the new baby. You will have to help with the new baby. Imagine, a little brother or sister. Wow, that is a special present, for a special girl.”
“Gee, I never thought of that,” as she sniffled one last time.
Her mother came out on the porch and called out her name. Quickly the little girl got up and ran to her mother. She threw herself into her dress and clasped her legs with all her strength.
The mother bent down and said, “My Oh My, what is that all about?”
The little girl looked into her eyes and with renewed understanding said, “I love you mommy!”
She replied, “Well I love you baby.”
At those words the little girl put her arms about her mother’s neck and kissed her cheek. The two held each other in a warming embrace.
“Does my special little girl want some lemonade?”
“Oh yes I do,” she said.
The two got up and went into the house.
I stood up, shook my head, and walked away with a little smile.
🙂
author: Joseph Raymond
May 31, 2006