A handful of love
I was getting ready to go. Kiki had already been briefed about all the resources at her disposal while she babysat the other kids. She’d been told the hours during which I needed the kids not to call because I’d be on panels. All that was left to do was say goodbye to the other kids and remind them to be good for Kiki.
Gleek was sprawled stomach down on the floor with the remains of her valentine’s day haul strewn around her. She had dumped out two little boxes of nerds candy and was sorting them by colors so that there was a pile of white balls and a pile of pink balls. She seemed to pay no attention to my admonitions, but as soon as I turned to go, she cried “Wait Mom!”
I turned back and waited. Gleek continued to sort balls. I shifted on my feet. If I did not leave soon, I would be late. Gleek popped to her feet and held out two tiny handfuls of nerds, one pink and one white.
“These are good lucks.” She said as she tipped the balls into my waiting hand. “There are five white ones and five pink ones. I counted. They will help you with your panels.” Gleek hugged me tight. “You’re my best mom!” Then she let me go.
I walked up stairs, cupping the little handful of candy. I’m not a candy person. Too much sugar gives me headaches. But what I held in my hand was more than just candy. It was also a little handful of love, an expression of support from my little girl. I could not throw it away as if it were mere sugar. I popped them in my mouth and savored the sweetness as I walked out the door.
I think they worked too, because the panels went well.