My Love, Enlighten me

Kenny Clarke lifted up Tina Clarke the way he lifted up Gloria Taylor which was a bridal style.

She felt uncomfortable feeling her small body being carried with that style. It was no different with lying down.

She lifted her small legs and Kenny Clarke held her upright.

He held her with one hand, turned around and opened the study room.

He went in, looked at the mess in the room, and stared at it for a moment. He put Tina Clarke aside, crouched down and began to pick up things.

Tina Clarke was probably thinking that the room was too messy. She tiptoed to the edge of the sofa and climbed it. She rubbed her tiger doll while looking at Kenny Clarke going around.

After a few seconds, she asked Kenny Clarke curiously, “Dad, what are you doing?”

He said without looking up, “I’m picking up stuff from the floor.”

“Oh. I’ll give you hand.” she excitedly slid down from the sofa, ran to Kenny Clarke and began to help him picking up stuff from the floor.

However, she didn’t pick it up and fold it neatly like Kenny Clarke. She just stuff it in her arms and crumpled it up. Finally, she brought it to Kenny Clarke looking proud, “I’m pick these all up!”

Kenny Clarke took it and rubbed her head, “You’d better go and play.”

“Okay.” she curled he lips.

She didn’t think that picking up stuff was fun either.

At her age, she liked colorful and lovely toys. She had no interest in these white papers.

After Kenny Clarke done picking up stuff from the floor and put them back on the table, suddenly there was a knock on the door outside.

“Who is it?” he asked coldly.

“It’s me. Is Tina still here? I heated a cup of milk for her. She should take a bath and sleep.” said Gloria Taylor.

Kenny Clarke didn’t notice that it was almost ten o’clock.

He turned to Tina Clarke and found that she was listening the voice at the door with her ears erect.

She was sitting on the sofa with head tilted sideways and eyes moving around. She was apparently attracted by the voice outside the door.

asked, “Did you hear

“Mom’s calling me. She had a cup of milk for me.” she looked

was just as surprised, “Not

“You said mom.” Tina Clarke spoke a little too fast.

to say, “You said

she jumped off the sofa,

Clarke watched her run to the door. He

stuff on the table, walked behind the desk, and put it inside

When he looked up, he saw Tina Clarke

cup of milk. When she heard the way she

to her senses and asked in disbelief,

emotional changes of the woman standing in

so sudden. Gloria Taylor was a

heated a cup of milk for you…” Gloria Taylor stuttered. She crouched

lit up as she reached out for the cup and drank it.

her hand to help her hold the cup because she

Clarke had a good

of the cup and showed it to Gloria Taylor,

heart softened, “That’s great! Shall I heat you another cup of

“Okay!”

Tina Clarke happily held the cup and

Her eyes followed the little girl. She didn’t know how long Kenny Clarke had been standing by the

leaning on the door looking at Tina Clarke with

just got a compliment from Gloria Taylor. Tina Clarke looked at Kenny Clarke expectantly, “Look, Dad!

glass and now, she had a white beard above her

out his fingers to erase it.

head and said, “Thank you, Mom!”

she heard Tina Clarke calling her ‘mom’.

a whim. It must be Kenny Clarke’s

Kenny Clarke was too complicated to understand.

little naïve, but

him with mixed feelings.

***

bathed Tina Clarke and tucked her

He was wearing a soft pajama. He didn’t

took a deep breath and said, ‘Thank you.”