Beside me, on a park bench, sits a little girl, only five years old. She swings her legs and tells me about her life:
I havent seen my dad, because he left me and Mum when I was very little. My mum passed away last year. The grown-ups told me shed died.
The girl looks at me and continues her story:
After the funeral, my aunt Emma, who was Mums sister, came to live with us. They said it was very noble of her, not to send me off to a childrens home. I was told Aunt Emma is now my guardian, and I will stay with her.
She pauses, glancing under the bench, then resumes her tale:
When I moved in, Aunt Emma started tidying up the house. She packed all of Mums things into a corner and wanted to throw them out. I cried and begged her not to, so she let me keep them. Now, I sleep in that corner. At night, I lie on top of Mums things and it feels warmalmost like shes there beside me.
Every morning, my aunt gives me something to eat. Shes not a great cook; Mum was better at it, but Aunt Emma asks me to eat everything on my plate. I dont want to upset her, so I finish whatever she gives me. I know she tries her best, and its not her fault she cant cook like Mum. Afterwards, she sends me outside to play, and Im not allowed back until the skies begin to turn dark. Aunt Emma is really, really kind!
She loves to boast to her friends about me. I dont know these women, but they visit us often. Aunt Emma sits with them over tea, sharing funny stories and saying nice things about me, spoiling both her friends and me with sweets.
The girl sighs and continues:
I cant only eat sweets all the time. Aunt Emma has never scolded me about anything. Shes always gentle with me. Once, she even gave me a doll, though the doll is a bit poorlya bad leg and an eye that winks crookedly. Mum never gave me a doll that wasnt whole.
She leaps off the bench and starts hopping on one foot:
I have to go now, because Aunt Emma said her friends are visiting today, and I have to dress nicely before they come. She promised Id get a delicious cake afterwards. Goodbye!
The girl bounces away, hurrying to do her errands. I sit for a long while, my thoughts circling around good Aunt Emma. I cant help but wonder, whats the purpose behind such goodness? Why does she want everyone to think shes noble? Is it really possible for someone to watch a child sleep on the floor, wrapped in her dead mothers clothes, without feeling anything?
