The two-year-old bombs through
the house, headed for the back bedroom where Grandma keeps a box of toys –
balls, Hot Wheels, assorted action figures; memories from childhoods the others
have outgrown.
He comes out with a toy
microphone, one of those cheap, plastic things that echo when you speak into it
and it sounds like it is “live.” “Birthday to you,” he sings. “Birthday to you.”
We all smile at him and he does a
little, sideways dance, shifting from one hip to the other to a melody only he
hears. He gives a hearty laugh and goes back to his singing.
Our little charmer is growing
fast. He is healthy and robust. He is loved by everyone.
* * *
One other little charmer never
reached his second birthday here on earth.
His little hands never got to play with Grandma’s box of rescued toys.
We never got to sing a second
“Happy birthday to you,” because a freak, horrible accident took him from us
two years ago this month. He would have
been four. All we have are memories of his smiles, his silly dances, and his
laugh; yet he still charms us.
He is still loved by everyone.
* * *
My visitors are gone now and I
sweep through the house looking for toys left behind by little hands – a
two-piece, wooden train set, an orange ball, the microphone. I carry them in my
arms, returning them where they go.
I sing into the microphone,
“Birthday to you.”
My heart still hurts for you and your family. I will never forget that horrible morning when I read your post. Precious memories.... beautiful dreams of what could have been. Perfect peace knowing he is an Angel and walks with Jesus.
ReplyDeleteThank you, dear Lea. We all miss him. Always will.
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