Page 101 of Let Me

I know I have to explain it to him.I have a habit of doing that.That brain of his is capable of comprehending a lot.

I say, “A gentleman is a nice man.It’s a man who has good manners and says things like please and thank you.He’s polite and treats everyone with respect.Does that sound like you?”

“Yes, but I’m still a boy!I guess that makes me a gentleboy.”

I chuckle and say, “Yes, it does.You know, your Daddy was a gentleman, too.”

“Yeah, I figured.”

“How do you figure?”I ask, finding it hard to believe I’m talking to a five-year-old.

“Because you say I take after him, right Mommy?So, if I take after Daddy, that means whatever he was, that’s what I am.”

“That’s right, sweetheart.”

I turn into the parking lot at the ice cream shop.I can’t bring myself to return to the one where I met Judah – the one across from where his parents’ grocery store is, so I go to a different one a bit closer to Lake Julian Park.

I get out, open the back door.Juju unbuckles his lap belt and slides out of his booster seat, stepping out of the car.He stretches his little arms afterward and says, “After this, we’re taking a nap, Mommy.”

I chuckle.“You sound like an old man, Ju.”

He snickers while reaching for my hand.“Why do you always say that, Mommy?”

“Because you do.”

“I’m a five-year-oldoldman.Hee, hee, hee,” he laughs, covering his mouth with his free hand.

“Yes, you are.”

I open the door and we stand at the back of the line.It’s not too crazy, busy for it to be this hot.It’s only four o’clock.We probably beat the rush.

“Do you know what flavor you want today?”I ask Juju.

“Umm…” he taps his index finger on his top lip and says, “Surprise me, Mommy.”

“Okay.”

We get to the front of the line.I say, “Hi.I’ll have a scoop of blueberry cheesecake in a cone for the little one, and I’ll have a plain vanilla in a cone.”

“One scoop?”the worker asks.

“Oh, yes, please.”

“Alright.”

While we wait, I glance around the place, but Juju is looking at the little girl in line in front of us.He’s in a trance, staring while they both wait for their ice cream.

She finally gets hers and then walks off with her guardian.I hand Juju his and then get mine and pay.We head out the door and the little girl Juju was staring at is outside in tears.

“Aw,” I say, looking at her.

The man with her, I assume he’s her father, says, “She’s okay.She dropped her ice cream.”

“You can have mine,” Juju says insistently, handing her his.

“Oh, you don’t have to do that, buddy,” the man says.“I was just about to go and get her another one.”

She smiles and accepts the ice cream, anyway.

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