He’s the boy whose smile lit up the waiting room that first time. I remember thinking how wonderful to be his mother and to be smiled at like that. And today. He told me about the things that make him laugh and his joy was infectious as he howled with gleeful delight.
Then he told me about a song that he said he “really, really, really, really liked” and he beckoned me closer as if to whisper, and he began to sing. I was surprised at the words; they were sad and full of yearning and sung so tenderly. He really loved the song. You could feel it in his voice. It reached something deep within him. He closed his eyes and sighed a tiny little sigh as he came to the end.
If
often in the still of night,
thoughts turn out twisted
well
unwind.
Uncurl and lay the worries of the world
by any fire you
find.
Dreamers are only believers in their sleep
under
achievers take a leap
tell her the secrets that you keep
so
close and yet too far out.
Maybe someday you'll hear
sweet
something's whispered softly
into your ear.
Later as he washed up, he sang the words quietly to himself as he swirled the brushes around the palette, unconcerned about the cleaning. He was somewhere else.
Then he folded up his apron neat and clever and opened the door for me.
Joolz Mclay 2004