I
was standing in line in the bank watching a young Hispanic man holding
the hand of his five-year-old son. The little boy saw me smiling at
him and coyly looked away. His dad was concentrated on being called to
the counter. The youngster playfully twirled around his father’s leg
trying to get his attention. Unsuccessfully, he stretched up to reach
his daddy’s ear secretly whispering to him. I smiled watching this
scene of affection between father and son.
"Do you
speak English," I found an excuse to speak to the little boy.
"Only
English," responded the young father attentively keeping his eyes
on his turn."
Yes!"
repeated the little one, happily nodding his head swinging his dad’s
arm.
"You love
your daddy," I leaned over to the boy with much delight,
"you love him very much. I can see! Your daddy is surely the most
wonderful daddy in the universe."
The little boy’s
eyes bubbled with joy.
"Yes, I
love my daddy, this daddy. The other one, he is not nice. I
love this one," patting his beloved daddy’s hand.
"His
mother’s friend does not treat him nice," the father casually
explained, briefly joining our conversation.
"You have two
daddies to love?" I asked innocently.
"Two
daddies to whom you say, ‘I love you!’ How wonderful! Have you
ever told the other daddy that you love him?" Hesitantly he shook
his head "no" keeping his big brown eyes on me knowing he
owed me an answer.
"Tell your
other dad, ‘I love you,’ he will like it. When you are nice, he
will be nice."
For a quiet
moment the boy’s face was grim and still. Enlightened by an
understanding sparkle, his eyes brightened from a dark brown to a
lighter shade. He smiled at me remaining mute. I waited thinking: he
is a bright little guy, very special, alert and awake.
They left for
the counter.
Then out of the
silence of the impersonal bank building an angelic voice vibrated,
"I love my daddy" cuddling in closer to his dad "he is
the most wonderful daddy in the universe. I love him, and I also love
my other dad."
I smiled as it
had clicked in his little brain! I looked over where my two friends,
father and son, were being served. At the counter a friendly young
Asian teller repeated in her caring questioning voice, "You love
your daddy, he is the most wonderful daddy in the universe?"
"Yes, I
love him" it faded into the vastness of the bank.
I met God in
this innocent child, the father and the clerk.
Oh yes, I met
God in the bank.
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