Dad was driving.
Justine and You were in the back seat.
You were unusually quiet that day.
Mom turned to You and asked, "Is Daniel okay?"
You pointed to the side of your head with your chubby little pointer-finger and said, rather adoringly, "Hee - dake."
Mum was taken by surprise and exclaimed,
"Did Daniel say, head--dake?"
You nodded.
"Aww ... Come here," Mom said.
Your mother reached out for You, holding both her arms out in open embrace. You pushed yourself up clumsily from the back seat and made your way to the front. Mom cradled You and held You against her chest, assuring You in a soothing tone, that ...
"little boys do not get headaches."
Mom stroked your head gently and lulled You into slumber. You closed your eyes and drifted to sleep almost instantly.
How peaceful You looked in your mother's arms.
That was the first time You mentioned this word ...
Headache.
You were two years old.
Mom wonders where You could have picked that big word from.
Hee -- dake.
Perhaps You had seen Dad on an occasion or two, resting on the sofa with his arms over his forehead, and possibly with his eyes closed. Mom remembers one time when You had asked curiously, "Why Daddy, why?" and Dad had said, "Daddy got headache. Go play with Justine, okay?"
Pause.
Was that where You learned the word from?
Mom couldn't have known then, but this word would soon sprout its evil horns, force its ugly presence to be felt and turn our happy little world upside down.
Daniel at 2 years old.
"Who can say what God's plans are?
Only Time ..."
By Enya. Click on title to view.
The Orange Dot stories are originally written on Daniel's Facebook under Discussion.
