All the Children

While Christian had soccer practice, the boys played at the playground on a typical windy March day.  Among all the screaming, laughing children was a lone figure named Ramona standing high up on the jungle gym.  The children ran around her to climb down the bars or slide down the slides.  Ramona was unsure what to do.  I remember I'd seen her before; she's a middle aged woman with the mentality of a shy child.

Gabriel complained that he couldn't find a friend to play with.  I told him to go ask someone to play with him.  It's so much fun watching how the kids interact with each other.  Finally, Gaby found another boy and he sidled up to him.  They stood shoulder to shoulder and Gaby turned to him slightly as he muttered, "Hi. I'm Gay-bee-ole." Gaby didn't look directly at him, but past the boy in hopes that he had found a friend.  Gaby's eyes were wide with anticipation, but no worries.  The boy gave his name and they were fast friends, two peas in a pod climbing up the bars together and chasing each other.

As I waited for Jojo to take his turn on the slide, Ramona gleefully slid down and as with any other child I enthusiastically said, "Whee! Oooh, you went down fast!"  Ramona stuck out her hand and introduced herself.  She spoke to me in both Spanish and English.  "Look what I have," and she pulled out her cell phone.  It was time for Ramona to leave.  I wondered, where are her parents?  And then I realized her parents must be very old or maybe even deceased.

I hope we meet again.