55 Box of Treasures

The Little Red Haired Girl

55 Box of Treasures

“What’s that in your hand?” Heart asked the Little Red Haired Girl as it peered into the darkness of the Pumphouse.

“Oh I nearly forgot, it’s a present for you! I found it outside with Nana and it made me think of you.” She opened her hand and presented it to Heart.

Heart was instantly overwhelmed. The child had thought about Heart. She had put Heart first. The child was so genuine with her care as she put it down before Heart to see. Heart sobbed and bled, and bled again.

The Little Red Haired Girl watched in dismay “I’m sorry, don’t you like it? I didn’t mean to make you cry. I didn’t mean to.”
“No No child. I love it. It’s the best present I have ever had” cried Heart.
“It’s only a rock but it made me think of you. I can take it away if you don’t like it” the child was deeply concerned.

“No child it’s beautiful because of why you gave it. Thank you so much” Heart managed to say between sobs.

The Little Red Haired Girl looked puzzled for a second but went on to explain why it reminded her of Heart. “See it’s heart shaped like Mummy’s Balentine card.”
Heart still sobbed.
“And everyone said you was broken and see, it has a crack right down the middle like you.”
Heart still sobbed.

“But look, it is still a whole rock, the bits are still together.”
“It is child” Heart cried.
“And when I picked it up it was warm, Nana said it had been in the sunlight.”
Heart struggled to speak.

“And it can still be cold too. If you turn it the other way around it could look like the nose on a snowman’s face.”

Heart was listening.

“And It can still be thrown like a ball and you can still find it coz it won’t run away like a bouncing ball.”
Heart was calming.

“And you can still put it away in your special treasure box like brothers cars or Lego, and Mummy’s bestest pearls, and take it out to look at it, or put it in your pocket.” The child looked worried.
“Is it not pretty enough? Is that why it is wrong?” she asked.

“It’s beautiful” Heart spluttered “because you gave it to me and because you care. Because you are my bestest friend and I should have known that all along.”

The child looked puzzled again and was cautious before she spoke again not wanting to make Heart cry anymore and eventually said “Daddy made a wall in the garden with rocks and stones, so when they are joined with other ones they are really strong. Some are strong on their own even when they get dropped but Daddy said not to throw them coz they might hurt someone.”

Heart could not answer.

“Do you want me to find a better one? One that is not as messy, coz I can next time Nana and I go out to play? We can look for a prettier one, a shiny one or one that has more colour on it? or wrapped in paper? Is it coz haven’t wrapped it?”
“No child. This one is perfect for me” Heart managed to say.

“Then why are you crying?”

“Come child” sighed Soul “let’s give Heart time to heal for a little while and you need to get some sleep if you are to be fit and ready for your next outing with Nana.”
“I didn’t mean to make Heart cry. Will Heart be Ok?”
“Yes” sighed Soul “In a little while.”

“Would Heart like a hug like a Bear?”
“I think Heart would love a Bear hug” and Soul watched as the Little Red Haired Girl lay down next to Body, her arms tightly around herself and she hugged with all her strength, finally releasing as sleep took over.