When Tommy emerged from his room wearing my pajamas, I could tell that his mood had brightened. He went into my bedroom and stood in front of the big mirror, admiring his reflection. "Do you like those pjs, Tommy?" I asked.
"Oh yes, Mommy. I do. I think they are very pretty," he said. "Mommy," he continued hesitantly, "Do you think I'm pretty?"
"Pretty?" I responded with surprise. "Well, I never thought about it, but yes, I suppose you are pretty."
He smiled. "I want to be pretty. Pretty like you," he said, still gazing at his reflection.
I was puzzled but also very touched by what he said. "Well, maybe I can help you to be even prettier," I suggested. I sat Tommy down at my vanity and started to brush out his hair. His curly, dirty blonde hair hung down nearly to his shoulders. As a boy, his long hair gave him a wild, surfer dude look. But as I brushed it I realized just how pretty his hair was. I gathered up some of his hair and pinned it up in back. I brushed out a few tendrils and let them fall to the sides of his face. I dabbed some pink gloss on his lips and brushed a little blush on his cheeks. When I asked him if he wanted me to spritz him with a little cologne, he said, "Yes please, Mommy."
Tommy and I proceeded to spend a delightful evening together, both of us wearing pretty flannel pjs. We snuggled up together under a blanket on the couch and watched tv together, something we hadn't done since Tommy was just a little boy.
That night, I even tucked Tommy into his bed. He did indeed look very pretty, with his lips and cheeks pinked with my make-up and his brushed out hair falling across the pillows. I kissed him good night on the forehead and he said, "Thank you Mommy."
As I turned off his light and closed the door to his bedroom, I wondered if this was going to prove to be a one-time event. I suspected it would not be.
A beautiful start,
ReplyDeletebut where shall it lead?
Perhaps more lazy evenings together.
Training in kitten heels to lead where?