Dance With an Angel

I tried to gently ask questions about his mom, his safety, but Jeremy replied, "Let's not talk about that stuff.  Let's just have fun.  Okay?"

So we acted like kids together all day.  We sang at the top of our lungs and held hands under the noonday sun.  My side ached from laughing so hard tickling each other.  After joining other kids playing double dutch, we skipped our way to the children's zoo, barking like dogs and snorting like pigs.  Attempting to outdo each other's cartwheels, we bumped into one another and fell down laughing.  We bought some chocolate chip cookies and fed some to the ducks.  A dance competition to a disc jockey prompted Jeremy to try to tackle me and we ended up wrestling in the grass.  People looked at us like we were nuts, but we didn't care.

"Can I sit on your shoulders?  I'm gettin' tired," he asked.

"Sure, Sweetie.  Wanna go home?"

"No way."

We walked over and watched the polar bears play.  When we finished, Jeremy asked, "Can we go sit on the grass over there?"  He pointed to a big old oak tree.  "I gotta ask ya somethin'."

I sat on the grass leaning against the sturdy thick tree.  Jeremy climbed on my lap, turned around so he could look at me and asked, "Can you be my mommy?"

I pulled him tightly against my chest and took a deep breath.  When I could, I whispered, "I'm sorry, Sweetie.  You already have a mommy.  I'll always be your friend, though.  And you can always count on me, no matter what."

He snuggled in closer, closing his eyes.  I rocked him.  "I want you to know something else, Jeremy."  I turned him so I could look directly into his eyes.  I placed one hand on each shoulder and said, "I'll do everything in my power to make sure that no one ever hurts you again.  I promise."

"You promise?" he asked, with raised eyebrows.

"I promise.  I'll always be there for you.  Always."

We sat and held each other for what seemed like forever.  We became lost in time, in the moment.  I didn't want to ever let him go.  As the sun hid behind a cloud, it became chilly.  I glanced at my watch again.  It read three o'clock.  "Are you hungry, Little Buddy?"

"Yep!"

"How 'bout McDonald's on the way home?"

"Deal!"

As we started for the car, I carried him.  He was exhausted.  A man walked toward us carrying a French Poodle.  Jeremy barked as they passed by, startling the dog, which then snapped at the owner's nose.  We tried not to laugh.  The owner, furious, began yelling at me, "You better control your kid lady..."

"Your kid," Jeremy squealed, "He thinks I'm your son!"  I tried to control my emotions, but my eyes filled with tears.

I wished he were.

Jeremy and I made a connection that day no one could ever take away from us.