So there’s this little girl who comes by my house every time she sees me, no matter the hour or whether i am tired or hyper. I call her by name, Vanessa…… She must be two years old or a few months older perhaps. She used to simply gaze at me. For months along, she hardly said a word, but the moment my door would close, she would skip around like a honey bunch and stretch her little feet around, while singing aloud.
” Schweety” is what she now mumurs when she sees me, rushes to my door knob and off to pick some candy. You see, after two incidences, she knows exactly what she wants and where it is. A year ago, she would take walks in the compound with an older sibling, and since i am a sweets hoarder, i would occasionally share with them. She would stand afar, only come close enough by a few careful and slow steps to pick the candy with her protective arm and leg on standby to run back as quickly as possible. Once she had a grip of her siblings’ arm, the smile and wave would emerge.
It’s intriguing that she knows and remembers where it is kept, picks it, shuts the door and after that makes herself comfortable on the floor, struggling to open her sweets. I am now allowed to carry her, and she holds onto me real tight.
A few days ago i said goodnight to her after convincing her that i would see her the next day so she had to go home. I turned to my door and i heard; “chi you waater……goo nighhh” She mumbled. Just as i got ready for a bath, i hear an unfamiliar knock on the door and there she was smiling with a teddy bear in her hands. How she sneaked out, i could only guess…..
That’s the kind of childhood everyone deserves, the little memories of what was then, is and will become. When i think back to how Vanessa has grown, the stares were doubt and understanding. The skipping around was her peace and joy. The speaking to me is now trust, she feels at ease.
I have been told of a few childhood memories of my own, toddler moments especially . The pop corn in my mouth, and both palms of my hands and i stared at my brother and the empty bowl in front of us. Attempting to help out with cooking at three years old and just walking away from it because i felt tired….. regardless of whether the meal was ready or not, i had in my little mind played my part.
I remember years ago when my cousin was visiting and we had just finished breakfast when he strolled in with his playmates. Now picture a five year old giving others a house tour…..well, that’s exactly what he did, room after room and confidently too. They looked like Santa Claus’s little helpers as they followed him all in line, loyally into every room as he explained to them what it was for. The only difference here is that the Elf’s only show up in December, but well, we did enjoy the sight of these ones.
It’s simply sweet innocence, nothing less or more.
If only we could all see the world through the eyes of a child , imagine If we only tried……..
#RawandReal#
Raw and Real 