Little Laughing Buddha Child

Gerry insists on wearing the green cords, his favourite purple Ninja Turtle t shirt topped with his cape. Lorna doesn't really care; Gerry's worn that cape almost every day since his birthday in April. When she puts him to bed after reading The Velveteen Rabbit four times and they sing You've Got A Friend in whispers twice, she turns the light off and the constellation glows a faint green on his ceiling. She listens for the shift in his breathing, when it drops in cadence, deeper, slower. That's the moment to extricate the cape from under his pillow. Enough time to throw it in the wash and get it dried, folded and placed back where it started before she passes out from exhaustion, generally around 10. It's been a long four years. He's a great kid but this was never the plan, solo parenting. Now, first day of school in the morning. Weeks of planning, dry runs, deciding on what to wear again and again. The cords, the sweater, the jeans, the superman pajamas. Always the cape. The cape is Gerry's signature piece. Derek isn't accountable for much but he never forgets the kid's birthday. He usually knocks it out of the park; this year it was a grand slam. A personalized, hand sewn cape, not some twenty dollar department store special. Must be dating a wardrobe gal. Sure as heck isn't his mom behind the machine. Crazy woman couldn't hem a sheet with double sided tape. She doesn't have the heart to tell Gerry the truth and at this age it'll do more harm than good. If she's being honest with herself, she harbours a secret hope Derek will grow up and become the man they both need him to be. Her parents work hard at dispelling this fantasy. They've seen the gong show from the inside out. Oz, Behind The Curtain- that's what her mom calls it. Gerry ties them all together. He is one magnificent kid. When people talk about a light, a spirit, emanating from deep inside shining so bright and clear and strong, they're referring to Gerry. Honestly, Lorna sometimes wonders if she's this kid's mother. He's happy. Kind. Loving. Funny as all get out and just the best kid you could hope for. And it's genuine. Some sort of little laughing Buddha, her son. So if he wants to wear his cape on the first day of school who is she to say no?

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