she knew

Excited eyes beckoned our attention as we walked into the little gray house. She twisted and turned, twirling her navy blue dress in every direction. "She's been standing by the door waiting," her mom informed us, "She's so excited." The blond haired three year old ran into her room ecstatic about showing us her "Barbie house." We watched with smiles, taking in every bit of energy she offered.
Finally, with hot pink crocs on her feet, we bounced out the door, ready to go to the park. As we walked up our street, she ran with wide-eyes picking up the occasional rock or leaf or berry to place in our hands. The sun shone through the trees and the air was cool, a perfect summer night. After walking a distance she grew tired and eventually locked her tiny hands around my neck and rode on my back, still carelessly looking in every direction. Her curly hair bounced in the air and her smile shone brighter than the sun. "Mya, you know i love you?" I asked, wondering how she would respond. "I know!" She told me with utmost confidence. The child never questioned whether she was loved. She just knew.
After bending the corner, she lifted her eyes and spotted the blue slides and yellow swings. "I see the park!" She announced over and over again. I lowered her to the ground and we decided to race. Kari, Mya, and I ran like children to the cement slab. We arrived, out of breath and Mya began to play. She immediately found companions. A little girl just her size sat on the swing. The stranger child had just recovered from a slip on the bars and wanted to help her new friend. "Hey! Please be careful on those bars over there! Hang on tight! Don't fall!" "Okay" Mya responded with grown-up respect. Soon the girls were giggling together, chasing each other, and running from "the monsters." Kari and I sat on the swings just watching from a distance like adults. The evening passed and the tears rolled as we told the new friends goodbye. The child sulked all the way home but put on a smile as we walked in the door of her home. Mommy was there to greet us and hear all about our excitement. I bent down to hug the tiny body and found that i could wrap my arms around her twice. She told us thank you and once again twirled around just as excited as when we began.