Five Minutes
I was walking with Erin to buy breakfast. As we crossed the courtyard (which is really a bare patch of concrete dotted with some young shrubs and trees), Erin stopped, and turned to a nearby bench.
Erin called out, "Daddy, come sit with me!"
I glanced at the darkening sky, and replied, "Erin, it might rain very soon. We need to buy our breakfast now!"
Erin had already sat on the bench. She patted the space next to her and repeated, "We're always rushing around. Daddy, come sit with me."
I capitulated, thinking it wouldn't take more than five minutes.
As soon as I joined her, she clasped her hand in mine and leaned close.
"Isn't this nice? Daddy, let's enjoy the day!"
I leaned back, stretched out my legs and smiled.
Erin looked around her, and pointed, "Look Daddy! There are some beautiful flowers and trees!" She ran to the shrubs, and chased a butterfly which just happened to fly past. Then, she plucked a flower and gave it to me.
I hazarded a guess, "I think it's called a hibiscus, dear."
(Actually it was a peacock flower.)
Erin cocked her head, and said quizzically, "Hi-biscuit? It's not a hi-biscuit!"
I laughed, "No darling. A hibiscus."
Erin dashed to the shrubs again and gingerly placed the flower on the leaves.
"Daddy, come and find the hibiscus! I hid it!"
I went over, and pointed to the flower. Erin and I shared a laugh, and we went on our way.
It was the best five minutes I ever spent with Erin.
Erin called out, "Daddy, come sit with me!"
I glanced at the darkening sky, and replied, "Erin, it might rain very soon. We need to buy our breakfast now!"
Erin had already sat on the bench. She patted the space next to her and repeated, "We're always rushing around. Daddy, come sit with me."
I capitulated, thinking it wouldn't take more than five minutes.
As soon as I joined her, she clasped her hand in mine and leaned close.
"Isn't this nice? Daddy, let's enjoy the day!"
I leaned back, stretched out my legs and smiled.
Erin looked around her, and pointed, "Look Daddy! There are some beautiful flowers and trees!" She ran to the shrubs, and chased a butterfly which just happened to fly past. Then, she plucked a flower and gave it to me.
I hazarded a guess, "I think it's called a hibiscus, dear."
(Actually it was a peacock flower.)
Erin cocked her head, and said quizzically, "Hi-biscuit? It's not a hi-biscuit!"
I laughed, "No darling. A hibiscus."
Erin dashed to the shrubs again and gingerly placed the flower on the leaves.
"Daddy, come and find the hibiscus! I hid it!"
I went over, and pointed to the flower. Erin and I shared a laugh, and we went on our way.
It was the best five minutes I ever spent with Erin.