The best smell is bread, the best savor salt, the best love that of children.
--------Herbert ……………………………………………………………………………
“Rose, we’ll have to leave Joe here with you today ‘cause Dad and Mom aregonna move out to meet a friend. We are rushing in...”
About halfway there, the door swung open and my parents came running toward me with Joe following right behind them. They took my hands and told me how glad they were to see me.
The next thing I knew, I was in front of Joe. The later was smiling straight back at me while I was looking at him. Slowly the smile spread a grin from ear to ear.
"Hey, Rosy."
I swore, not at all that’s what I was expecting. Oh, did I mention that Joe was my nephew, my brother’s 5-year-old son?
Now, I would have to stay with Joe. I could tell that he was rather short forhis age, which made him look like just 3 years old or so. He was sort of boy who could always keep you busy as he liked to climb and got into everything.Also, his hands were always dirty yet being washed thousands of times. And what’s more, he always liked to call me Rosy instead of Aunt Rose.
"Call me Aunt Rose, boy, or I would put you on my knee and spank you hard." "Oh yes...but Rosy, would you like to see my new drawings?""Aunt Rose, boy!"
No matter how many times I corrected him, he seemed to forget. Just kept forgetting.
I should say that Joe was very smart and of kinda drawing talent. When we settled us down in the couch, he showed me all his current drawings. To my surprise, they were all about a little girl, whose smile showed several missing teeth.
"Who’s the girl, Joe?" "My new friend... Rosy, Is she pretty?" Clinging closer to me, the little boy looked up at me adoringly, "I hope she’d look like you."
I burst into a laugh for his naive words. On this little boy’s mind, his mamamight be the No.1 beauty in the world, his aunt the No.2 and maybe his grandmathe No.3. I couldn’t help laughing by thinking this way. Joe’s face was delightful at my laughter although he didn’t quite understand what funny was.He yelled out excitedly and began to bounce on the couch. We laughed together.The excitement kept the boy hopping like crazy. I found it’s actually a tiresome work to company with a 5-year-old naughty boy.
"Well, Joe, all right already, your bouncing made me kind a seasick."
Smiling, I stood up and went get some water. Joe rolled down from the couch and clung to me like a little shadow. For some reason unknown, he really likedme. He seemed curious everything about me like a baby-cat scenting around allthe time.
"Rosy, where is your boyfriend?"
Oh no. I could feel delight freezing on my face. I knew it had become the newtopic in the family since I told my parents the break-up between my boyfriend and me. Joe must have heard this from their discussion. They never tried to say too much in front of me,though. I knew they worried about me.
"He is at his place now." "Where is his place?" "Very far away from us..."
Trying to conceal my true feeling, I made my tone sound more calmly. But it didn't make sense to talk about this.
"Well, enough dawdling. Time to start lunch preparation." I interrupted him before he put another question to me, "How about a big meal for our lunch? Let me see, we will have chicken soup, steamed fish, and..."
"But why isn’t he with you?"
The little 5-year-old looked quite serious. And no doubt he was fond of this topic. But soon I showed him that I was not interested in talking about this.
"You know," began me, "it’s hard to tell you, Joe. But it’s not important. Think you will know when you grow up..." paused for a while, I went on word by word, " The very important is...that Aunt Rose wont like loquacious kids."
I went straightly into the kitchen and ended our conversation this way. I knewJoe must have been starring at me with a puzzled look; I knew my words might confuse the little boy a bit; but most of all, I knew it might be the betterway to keep me from those questions that I disliked to answer. After a short while of silence, I peeped out and saw the little boy still standing there. He seemed to ponder on something.
"What are you doing, boy?"
Seriously and hesitatingly, he turned his little face to me, still with a puzzled look.
"But what’s loquacious, Rosy?"
I looked at him with a sorry smile on my face. Though I didn't like talking about it, I shouldn’t have said that to a little boy.
"Well, you are certainly a nice boy." Continued me, "And you are good at drawing. Now, why not draw me a picture, Joe?"
Once again, the boy’s face beamed with delight at my compliments. No wonder he was very pleased to take my advice. As I expected, I got some quiet moments to make the lunch later on... I smiled to myself, "see Rose, it’s not so hard getting along with a 5-year-old."
Joe didn't buzz me around anymore since that. Obviously, he was busy with drawing me a new picture. The lunch was ready about an hour later.
"Boy, go wash your hands...time for lunch," I stuck my head out...but, but my God, I could just hardly believe what I’d seen.
"Oh no. what a mess!"
I was shocked seeing that all my stuff was poured out from my handbag. Lipstick, compact, powder puff and perfume were here and there in the couch. My heart sank to the bottom as that little boy grinned at me with my addressbook in his hands. I was furious and couldn't wait to yell at him,
"Don't you know that you can only touch others' stuff with their permission? Oh, I do detest the behavior."
The boy’s face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at me with tears in his eyes and said, "Oh, I didn’t..."
"No more words! Get a move to wash your hands, now!!"
I shouted at the boy angrily while realizing him trying to explain for hisbehavior. I pulled the address book from his hands and began to check if there were any damages. Then...
To my great surprise, I saw, right on the last page of my address book, there was a picture—a little knight in shinning armor.
"Gee Whiz, what’s that?" My anger flared even much more again, "Don't you know address book is supposed to write down addresses only?" "That’s Joe." Voice trembling a bit, he took a deep breath, "You will bring the book with you all the time, right?" "Yes, but why?"
I was so embarrassed for my probably frightening the little boy. I knew I must have looked terrible at that time. I could tell from his even pale face and trembling voice. But right now I determined not to show my forgiveness tohim. This spoiled boy needed to be punished. I starred at him silently, waiting for his explanations.
"Joe is Rosy’s knight." Tears fell down his face as he continued, "and Joe will never leave Rosy alone..."
He was hurt, but even through his tears I could see his love for me. I was crushed. Eyes glistened as I knelt down and reached my hands to my little boy. I begged for his forgiveness as I hugged his small body into my arms.
"See, my boy, you are Rosy’s little knight, forever..."
…………………………………………………………………………
I kept this picture in my address book and brought it with me wherever I went.Whenever I felt down and discouraged, I would take the book out and turned tothe last page. Every line in this picture reminded me the love of the child who had put it there.
