One of the most enchanting and rewarding experiences I have ever had as an aunt was with, Ashley, my niece. When Ashley was two, my sister-in-law was pregnant with her second child. She asked me to watch Ashley a couple of nights a week so she could take a prenatal exercise class. I jumped at the chance to spend some quality time with my niece.
My husband and I, having no children of our own, went out and bought crayons, coloring books, Playdoh and a variety of toddler toys to make Ashley feel welcome. I planned special dinners for two of us to make together. We made cookies, biscuits, cakes, Jell-O jigglers and anything else I could think of that was fun and messy.
I taught her to put all of her love into the dough she was kneading. For Ashley this usually meant huge handfuls of raisins or M&Ms, these doses of “love” added new dimensions to my baking; especially my garlic cheese biscuits.
As the weather turned warmer, Ashley developed a fascination with my Jacuzzi. So, in the early evenings she and I would play in the temperate water with her bathtub toys. I never realized that my Jacuzzi was actually the home of Ariel, Baby Beluga, Wee People and a host of other brightly colored plastic sea creatures. I also discovered how much fun my little mermaid had dumping water repeatedly over her aunt Holly’s head. Ashley certainly seemed to think this was extremely entertaining, so I went along with it. Afterwards, I would wrap her up in towel, sit with her on the chaise lounge on our patio and tell her stories about fairies and elves.
One evening Ashley asked, “Hoddy (she had trouble with her “L”s) how can your hear the fairies?”
I told her you had to sit very still and listen for their voices on the wind. Now, knowing my very active niece, I figured that would be the end of it. I could not have been more wrong. Ashley looked up at me and asked if we could listen for a while. So, there we sat quietly listening for the fairies and watching the sunset.
This turned out to be Ashleys’ favorite activity on her visits to our home. She would run over to what was now known as the “Fairy Chair” and pat her little hand on the cushion to indicate that it was time listen for the fairies. “Hurry up Hoddy, it’s almost time,” she would tell me if I didn’t climb onto the chaise fast enough to suit her.
Later, while she and I were preparing dinner, we would talk about what the fairies had told us. I was fascinated at the descriptive narratives Ashley would tell of what the fairies had said to her. She told me about their homes, why they could fly and what their names were. This also had its down side.
One evening I had baked some brownies for dessert. Ashley already having had one asked for another; I said “no.” A few minutes later, my husband comes and gets two brownies. He smiled sheepishly at me and said, “The fairies told Ashley she could have another brownie.” Needless to say, Ashley got her second brownie.
Not long afterwards, my niece Brittany was born and Ashley started preschool. Though I saw Ashley regularly, we never got the chance to sit and listen for the fairies anymore. Eventually as she grew older, I assumed she had forgotten all about them.
Four years later, Ashley and Brittany were over at my house to get ready for my brother’s birthday party. I got the girls dressed and put on a video for them to watch while I changed my clothes upstairs. When I came back downstairs, the back door was open and my couch was empty.
As I looked out the backdoor, there, Ashley and Brittany were sitting on the steps that led down to our field watching the sunset in their party dresses. Furious that they were going to ruin their dresses, I stormed out the door after them. As I approached, I caught part of their conversation and it stopped me dead in my tracks.
Ashley put her arm around Brittany and said, “If you want to hear the fairies you must be very still and very quiet.”
“Okay” Brittany replied.
At that moment, Ashley turned and saw me standing there behind them.
“Aunt Holly (no longer having trouble with her “L”s), do you want me to teach you how to listen for the fairies, too?” She called to me.
Tears welling in my eyes, I sat down between them and let Ashley “teach” me to listen for the fairies. She did remember after all.
Holly Hardin has a degree in English literature and is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. She is the author several published articles for both children and adults. Hardin lives in the north Georgia mountains with her husband, Jeff, and their four spoiled dogs.
That was absolutely beautiful! She will carry that for the rest of her life. She is lucky to have such a wonderful Aunt!! I love the fact the fact she called you Hoddy. My name was always Hoggy, just not the same. LOL