I don't really know this kid. I've been in charge of A and B Wards for the past month or so, and his bed is in D Ward. I'm not sure what his name is; all I know is that he had an encephalocele repaired last week, and that he sports a sweet, Rambo-style head bandage.I met him while I was walking down the hall on Friday. I was busy, not really paying attention to what was going on around me. Truth be told, it was kind of a bad week. I didn't work less than ten hours any of the days, and I was exhausted by that point. I was focused on my next task, and so it surprised me when I felt a tiny hand slip into mine. I looked down into his huge brown eyes. They were crinkled at the corners while he grinned up at me, and there was no way I was going to pass him by.
I stopped in the middle of the hall and gathered him in my arms. He responded by placing a huge, juicy kiss on my cheek. My tiredness lifted, and I kissed him back. It's one of the things I love best about this place; it's not considered a breach of etiquette to hand out smooches to the small children in your care. (At home, they'd be calling for your job.)
I was getting ready to go back on my way when I felt my chin gripped in a tiny vise. The cheeky little monkey had his fingers dug into my skin and was trying to turn my face so he could plant one on my lips! I pulled away and shook my head. Eeyo, I told him. No. I didn't know how to explain it all in Fon, so I put a finger on my lips and shook my head with a frown. I touched my cheek and smiled to let him know that it was safe territory for his kisses.
He looked so confused for a second that I was afraid he was going to burst into tears. His face cleared, though, when he figured out a way around the system. His three-year old grin was absolutely impish as he kissed his own finger and then turned and pressed it firmly on my lips.
I dissolved into laughter and he scampered off down the hall, probably to find his next girlfriend. And my day was officially made.
(Photo by Meg Petock.)
