13 Jan 2014

My Trooper

Cute little trooper.

He comes running in from the yard, tiny feet pattering across the stones and sand without a care. His chubby face is pink with the exertion yet the rose-bud mouth is pulled out into a great big grin, two little pearls of teeth making their appearance right in the front – the kind of grin that makes you inadvertently break into a smile of your own at the innocent optimism and quick contentment that life seems to take away as we grow older.

I think we lose a lot when we forget how, as a child, we could go from zero to elation in the time it takes to say ‘toffee’.

Anyway…. he comes running in, voice garbled with words that he does not know yet and eyes shining with excitement – he found a butterfly, his first. He reaches the entrance only to trip on the door step; hardly noticeable to the rest of us but to this two-feet-something ball of sheer joy, I’m sure it seemed like a high jump hurdle. He trips and fall onto the floor, the only teeth he has making contact with a soft little bottom lip – the sight of blood twists my insides into painful knots.


He bursts instantaneously into loud heart-rending cries as I scoop him up and check how deep the cut is. Not that deep, I sigh with relief. Then I go into damage-control mode, I coo soft nothings in his ear while cuddling him close as his wails die down to whimpers and then quiet sniffles.

I hoist him onto my hip as I reach for the jar on top of the fridge and pull out a bright red piece of candy. He looks at it and shakes his head, the sniffles growing a wee bit louder. I put the red one back, pull out a yellow one and hand it out. He closes his pudgy, pink fingers around it and chews one end – by now the sniffles have died down completely. I set him down on his blue kiddie chair and search the cabinet for oral ointment, it takes me a good five minutes to locate the tube of Zytee.

I turn around only to hear receding pitter-patter of feet heading off towards the yard again, accompanied by slurping sounds and the occasional word that he cooks up when he’s talking to himself. He’s off looking for the butterfly again.

Brave little trooper.

If only we learn from them, children. If only.

P.S: Dramatized real incident, my brother has grown up so much since this happened, both literally and figuratively, that I cherish the memory of this phase of his so so much. If it weren't for memories.

19 comments:

  1. Heloo Pee Vee....you caught me huh ;-).. I read your blog often.. ;-) love it!.. I too wish we had talked more in college..

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  2. This is so cute. I loved how you dramatized the entire thing. Its good to do that. Because after years when you ll read all this, you ll feel proud of yourself for capturing your moments in words. And omg you have a younger brother. I dont really know the feeling of having this little sibling but I am sure it must be fun. :D

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    1. I have a younger brother AND a sister :) And it IS so much fun :)

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  3. You know, this reminds me of my baby sister so much. She's 11 years younger to me. That's almost like having a baby, except for the labour pains part. You get involved in poop and pee and spitting up.
    And this was like walking down the memory lane.
    Amazingly cute post! :D

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    1. I know the feeling, my brother is 9 years younger and my sister is 10 years younger :)

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  4. D'awwwh, this post reminded me of my brother although it was more of me falling asleep singing lullabies to him and him staring at my face and neverrr falling asleep!
    Vary cute post :D x
    http://thisistherealitarin.blogspot.com/2014/01/barren.html

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  5. Aww, such a sweet memory! :)

    sometimes it's great being the elder one, right? We have so much more to know and remember about the people around us.
    :D

    Defiant Princess
    www.khanvibes.com

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    1. Someimes :) Other times, they make you wanna tear your hair out :P

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  6. Cute. ;)
    How old were you when this happened ?

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    1. Thanks :)
      He was two, so I'm guessing I was 13ish?

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  7. Awww.. made me call ma bro and asked him wen he is coming back home.. He was like whaaat? I just left half hour back from there. :D

    I got lumps in my throat reading this cos I have many memories like this. He is just three years younger to me and has always remained by BFF!! Nowadays we often fight and I am scared if we are drifting apart. Thanks for evoking the memories which made me mushy( am bitter most of the time these days) !!!

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    1. Really? Awww...<3 No drifting apart from relationships like that, don't worry.

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  8. sweetly written....i living those moments now...with my daughter....

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  9. So cute! ^_^
    And that pic! Aww! You used it aptly! :D

    *sigh* no younger siblings :(

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Go on, you can say it.