Monday, April 12, 2010

This is the beginning of a long and beautiful friendship...

I didn't grab my camera, or my video camera, but I have in my minds eye this image forever. Cooper and "his Liam", the 3 year boy old next door who Cooper loves possibly more than his Spiderman costume, on Cooper's Red Flyer tricycle. Cooper was pedaling, and Liam is sitting on the top step behind him, hanging on to the seat, feet up in the air. There they went, up and down the street, tassels flying on the ends of the handlebars, two little blond headed boys, poised to launch into a life of shared adventures, joys and undoubtedly trouble.

At one point Liam wanted to ride the bike, but Cooper wasn't in the mood to share. Liam was crying, and his dad told him it was Cooper's bike, he had his own which he could ride any time and if he didn't stop crying, he could go inside. Liam trudged his way to the door, scuffing his feet and crying. Cooper was distressed that Liam was leaving, so I told him that Liam was sad because he wouldn't share his bike. If he wanted Liam to stay outside, he might want to tell Liam he could have a turn. "YES!" said Cooper, and he jumped off the bike, and ran as fast as he could to catch up with Liam as he got to his front door. Cooper stopped, put a hand on his side, slightly bent over, catching his breath, and gestured to the bike while saying "Liam, BIKE. Your turn." Just like that, the two were happy, coming back to play. Liam got on, and said in his little froggy, husky voice, "Cooper, get on the back."

And off they went again...now if all of their future negotiations could be solved this simply.

2 comments:

Dproudmama said...

very wonderful times.

Anonymous said...

Such a wonderful commentary on what we could always be like - TY Michelle.

I hope all of you are well and I miss you all a great deal. I can tell you, Davey would have loved reading it.
Jim