Things that make us smile…

A couple weeks ago James is at the Jozi Food Market watching Ella and some new-found friends romp on a jumping castle. That she’s not supposed to romp on a jumping castle EVER is something that James and I don’t take nearly as seriously as her rheumatologist would like us to. Weak ligaments you see…could give way at any moment.

But it’s such fun!

Anyway. So he’s half watching her, half reading the paper when he hears her say,

“I have arthritis in my knees…did you know that?”

The previously airborne gaggle of girls is now seated, attention held in its entirety by our little daughter.

“Do you have arthritis in your knees too?”

“No…” replies her one, utterly crestfallen, companion.

“Me either.” says another in a tone that implies the un-smily face that would’ve most certainly been included in the written version. A third simply gets up and walks towards her parents the way young children do when they’re intent on finding out why they don’t have whatever that thing is that seems to be making all the other kids so happy.

“I have to take special medicine…” adds our little pied piper, hinting at a treasure trove of magical potions that all but make her fly. Her audience is about to cry from the injustice of it all…when suddenly and by some unspoken three-year old code they all get over it and go back to jumping.

“Maybe for my birthday” they’re no doubt thinking…”if I’m really good.”

:)