I write what I write

CHPercolator scribbling - 16 january 2005

Mikey

by Anita Dapperens

 

“When will you grow up?” shouted mom.

I didn’t have to look up to know she was shouting at Mikey, and I sighed.

Part of me wanted to get up and butt in, but the other part wanted to wait and see how he would handle this.

“Never.”

Though I silently cheered at the note of defiance, the tremble in his voice made my heart clench, more so because it was true.

But mom never got that. She didn’t have the patience. Annoyance was the only thing on her mind when she saw her sixteen year old grandson behave like a small child.

“I’m Peter Pan,” my son said, and I could almost see his blinding smile, “I’ll never grow up.”

A frustrated growl was followed by the slamming of the guest room door.

 

I can’t remember when we stumbled across the Peter Pan book, but for Mikey it was a revelation. A whole new world opened up to him, a world where there were more children like him. Children that would never grow up. It was his safety blanket.

We never contradicted him. Why should we?

He seemed more self-assured, more free, and a lot happier.

And making Mikey happy was our top priority.

If he wanted to believe he was Peter Pan, we would let him.

My mother would never get it though.

 

“Nana is angry,” Mikey said as he joined me in the kitchen, leaning his head on my shoulder.

“She’s going home tonight, love.”

“Can I watch cartoons now?”

I looked at the clock.

“Don’t you want some milk and cookies first?”

“Can’t I have ice cream instead?”

I ran my hand through his curls.

“If you want. Go on then, turn the telly on. I’ll get your ice cream.”

He gave me a sloppy kiss on my cheek and all but ran into the play room.

I watched him and couldn’t help but smile.

 

Sixteen years of age, but for all intents and purposes a six year old.

Oh, it wasn’t easy on us, mom wasn’t the only one who wouldn’t understand.

Yet, there wasn’t much we wouldn’t do just to see him smile.

His smile was worth it all.

 

The End

© 2005 Anita Dapperens - all rights reserved