The Two Little Ones

The first time I met the two little ones was at Their house. As soon as I walked in, the little sister, wearing a light blue dress, a light purple swimming cap, and deep pink goggles, ran towards me like a free little goldfish.

I took out my camera to snap a photo of the kids, and I realized that perhaps they were used to their mom’s camera; they didn’t even seem to notice being stared at. There was no self-consciousness, no resistance—just them being themselves.

While the adults chatted and laughed, their mom suddenly said, “The two kids are having a little quarrel.” I had been standing by, watching them play. They didn’t argue or fight, and their expressions didn’t change much, but such subtle emotions were caught by their mom, who extinguished the tiny spark of conflict before it escalated into a bigger issue. It seems that once a woman becomes a mother, she gains some kind of superpower, developing long antennae that connect her to her children.

For the kids, ice cream is the best remedy, haha. The little sister accidentally fell off the bed and bumped her head, but one “Kawaii” ice cream was enough to ease the pain. If that didn’t work, two would do.

After spending a happy half-day together, when it was time to say goodbye, the brother and sister each gave me a big hug. Soft, fragrant, and warm, I felt very happy.