Todays Helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul

[Guest guest]

The Littlest Daughter

By Firman

They were a happy family: four Pogue daughters all in the same school

in

different grades. They were talented and friendly girls. The youngest,

Janice,

who was in my class, seemed to be glued to her mother's skirts. The three

older

girls took the bus to school every morning and gaily rushed to their

classrooms,

but Janice was always driven to school by her mother, arriving just in time

for

the kindergarten morning song. Her mother usually stayed around until

Janice

seemed to be content and was involved in some activity, and then she would

tiptoe out. But she would return in time to take Janice home.

One Friday, Janice's mother called and asked for a conference with me.

She

entered in an agitated and fragile way. She almost seemed to wring her

hands in

distress. She said in a too-soft voice, " My husband is going to Europe on

business for two weeks, and he insists that I go with him. I have tried to

explain over and over that Janice needs me here. But he is equally adamant

that

she will be fine without me so I have no choice; I have to go. I have told

the

babysitter that she is to drive her every morning and watch her until she is

settled into the classroom. She has explicit instructions about picking her

up

and getting to school early so Janice won't worry. Will you please give

Janice

special attention and help her during this time of our separation? We have

never been apart a single day since she was born five years ago. She is so

young and fragile, and I want to be sure everything goes well for her. "

She stopped for a quick breath, but I stepped in and assured her that

we

would make every effort to support Janice and see that she was happy and

healthy

while her mother was away. I even volunteered to meet Janice at her car so

she

would see a familiar face. Janice's mother thanked me for our understanding

and

reassurance. As she left we talked about the logistics of watching for

Janice

and agreed that it would present some extra effort on my part but was worth

the

time it might take.

Monday morning, anticipating a tearful, anxious child, I planned a

special

program of fun and games. I waited outside to greet Janice, but just then

the

bus arrived and not three, but four Pogue girls got off of it. Janice

skipped

along joyfully, yelling " good-bye " to her sisters as she ran with two

friends

into the classroom. I walked slowly into the classroom and called Janice

over

to ask how the bus ride went. Impatiently she said, " Oh, I always wanted to

take the bus with the other kids, but Mother needs to be with me. You see

there

won't be any more babies, and so I have to be a baby a little longer. While

she

is away, I'll just ride the bus every day. I am five, you know. "