The Face of a Child
by Jennifer Bizama
Ocean spray bathed the seawall and me as I maneuvered the shortcut to the Majuro market. Gusts of wind churned the foamy waters as they crashed against the sturdy barrier.
As I passed through town, suddenly, a tiny girl tumbled out of a block house and across the rocky ground toward me. She must have been no more than 2 years old. She was brown as newly turned earth, plump as a freshly cooked raisin, and cute as a puppy. Her straight black hair fell to her shoulders and her button eyes danced.
She came toward me, tripping excitedly along on dimpled legs and knees. A smile more radiant than the stars lit her face as she called out baby words. I paused to consider this unique situation. I was accustomed to childish calls of "Ri-belle" ("White person!"), from children even as young as she, but here something was different. This little girl wanted more than the attention of a friendly smile or the wave of a hand. This little girl wanted me!
Upon reaching me, she opened her arms and clasped me tightly in a hug that hit me right at the knees. And she didn't let go. She held on tenaciously, babbling all the time as if she had something very important to tell me.
Unable to move, I stood in the middle of the stony side rode amazed at this tiny bundle of joy that had entangled me. "Etan?" ("Your name?") I asked. "Andrea," she glowed. She clung to me and at last I got the message that she wanted me to pick her up. I swept her up into my arms. She was perfectly happy to be there and chattered animatedly into my face.
I held her a moment until I heard her mother's voice. Then I set her down gently under her mother's eye as if relinquishing a treasure. "Bye, bye," I said. "Bye, bye," she echoed with all the charm of an enchantress. She waved her hand and grinned delightfully as I turned to go. Just before I turned, her brow crinkled in concentration as opened her mouth carefully. "Gooood night," she spoke the English words precisely. She smiled in triumph, her hand flying up and down once more.
I continued my journey in the wind with my own smile echoing the joyous face of a little child.