I have always followed the philosophy that
you have to get older and bigger, and you must take on a more mature and adult
like image as age plays its mischievous games with you. But, nowhere is it
written that you have to grow up in the process.
Maybe that is why I have
always enjoyed talking with young children. They are a lot smarter than we give
them credit for, and, at times, they can spout forth the greatest of wisdom. You
just have to talk to them as little people rather than little
kids.
Jennifer's niece, Melanie,
and I had such a talk some time ago, and I remember it as it were
yesterday.
I was in the living room
flipping through a magazine as I waited for Jenny to get ready for our date.
Melanie came in from playing with her sisters and sat next to me. She was filled
with the giggles and the look in her eyes told me I should be wary of a little
girl with pranks in her eyes.
She kept looking at me, and,
as looked at her she would turn quickly away and cover her face in peek-a-boo
fashion. It took a few minutes, but, I finally persuaded her to tell me what it
was that was so funny.
"Are you and Aunt Jenny
getting married?!", she asked in a voice that was more accusatory than
inquisitive.
After I regained my
composure from a moment of shock at her question, I asked her, "Why do you think
we are getting married?"
"I saw you kissing her!!",
her giggles becoming more uncontrollable.
I wasn't prepared for such a
conversation with a eight year old girl and I started to worry about the
direction this conversation may end up taking. As I turned away from her to try
and think of some sly and artful way to change the subject, Melanie, sensing my
nervous state, changed it for me.
"Don't worry John Boy, I
won't tell anyone. I can keep a secret."
I looked down at Mel as I
tried to keep a roaring smile from escaping. This little munchkin was making me
fall madly head-over-heals in like with her. The roaring smile teamed up with a
silly laugh and found it's way out.
I brushed the hair out of
her eyes and said, "So you can keep a secret can you!?", as I tickled
her.
"Sure! Don't worry!", she
said, hearing her sisters call her as she got up and quickly ran
outside.
I hadn't heard from Jennifer
for six or seven weeks, a very unusual thing for my letter writing fiend of a
friend. So, when her letter came I got very excited. I always enjoy getting
letters from friends. Stories about new jobs, new homes, promotions, trips, and
the kids fill them. Then, every so often, in the midst of all the good cheer
comes some news that freezes you.
The smile I had when I
opened Jenny's letter disappeared into disbelief and shock as I read it. "I'm
sorry I haven't written in a while, but, things have been kind of crazy here.
Melanie was killed in a car crash and..."
The letter started to shake.
I couldn't swallow. My eyes glazed over. I didn't want to believe what I read. I
though of Melanie's mother and father, and her three sisters. I thought of
Jennifer and her family. I thought of my own two
nieces.
There is so much happening
in the world today to occupy the mind of a writer. The events in Eastern Europe
and the Soviet Union are daily headlines. There are elections in Japan and
Central America, crazy weather in California and Georgia, politicians resigning
in Israel, and of course, there is the baseball strike.
Yet, with all this going on,
my mind is trying to make some sense out of why an eighteen year old girl has to
die. I remember family and friends and the events and occasions we have shared
that have shaped our lives. We now have one more to add to the
list.
I remember Melanie and the
secret I shared with my young friend.
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