Cathy's Creative Corner: 'Cuse Me (The Meeting)
Sonya loved power walking. She could get her exercise in and people wouldn’t bother her. They could see exactly what she was doing. Every now and then she’d come across someone who’d stop her. She’d just “high step” in place before eventually telling him or her she had to go. On the other hand, if she stopped to speak to someone, out came the sweat rag and she’d make up her time at the end of her walk. Rarely did Sonya go beyond the four to six streets that encompassed her neighborhood. She found it was a lot more likely she would walk if she stayed close to home. Having to get in the car and travel to a track or park, after working all day, put a damper on the process. Her arrangement was perfect.
Today as Sonya approached 4th Street, she could see that someone had moved into a house that had been empty for several months. There were tons of boxes sitting in the yard that still needed to be moved inside. Toys galore were pushed to one side. Wow! These kids had it all. A trampoline, swing set, bikes, Big Wheels and trikes. There’s even a pogo stick propped up against the porch. As Sonya power walked past the mirage of belongings, she caught a glimpse of a small girl looking back at her. She smiled and continued on her journey.
Two evenings later when Sonya arrived at the house on 4th Street, all the boxes were gone. The swing set and trampoline were assembled beside and behind the house. Good thing they had a nice size yard. She could see the riding toys all lined up in the garage. Sonya was startled when suddenly a little voice cried out, “’Cuse me. Why you walking so fast?” From behind a big tree stepped the little girl Sonya had noticed the other day.
“Goodness! You scared me,” panted Sonya while she patted her heart.
“Why? You scared of kids?” questioned the girl.
“No. No. I just wasn’t expecting anyone to be there.”
“’Cuse me. What’s your name?” asked the girl. “I can’t talk to strangers.”
“My name is Sonya. What’s yours?”
“Amber Marie, like my mom and grandma,” the girl stated proudly and off she ran. Sonya knew she’d have to be on the lookout for Miss Amber Marie from now on.
The next evening when she got close to Amber’s house, Sonya slowed her walk in anticipation of an encounter with her new friend. There she was leaning over the fence at the end of her yard. She was a cute little chubby-cheeked, caramel-coated child with beads and barrettes adorning her braids. Evidently, she had been waiting on Sonya, too. As Sonya got closer, Amber shouted, “’Cuse me. Why you not walking fast today?”
Seeing as how she was still a house away, all Sonya could do was shake her head and chuckle. She held up the universal “Give me a minute. I’m coming” finger, and to her surprise, Amber waited. “So how are you doing today?” greeted Sonya as she drew near.
“Fine,” was Amber’s only response. She, then, hopped on her roadster trike and shadowed Sonya the length of the yard.
“The other day I wanted to tell you I like your name. It’s a lovely name for a lovely little girl. But you ran off before I could say so,” said Sonya.
“I had to go tell my mom and Grandma Marie that I met a stranger named Sonya. Grandma said, ‘Well, she won’t be a stranger long,’” Amber parroted in an old lady voice.
When they got to the end of the yard, the little girl spoke again. “’Cuse me. Where you going?”
“A couple of turns and I’ll be back at my house. Before I go, I’d like to ask why you always say ‘cuse me?”
“’Cos my mom said before you start talking to grown-up people you ask them by saying excuse me. Then you can talk. See you tomorrow, Ms. Sonya.” Sonya watched as Amber pedaled back to the other end of the yard and disappeared around the side of the house.
