Hello, Stranger!

Weena was four years* old when she enrolled at the center where I used to work. She was a pretty and smart little thing whom everybody likes.

It was her father who takes her to the center and we learned that her mother was working abroad. So, we were kind of excited when we learned that her mother arrived. We wanted her mother to see how smart Weena is and we want to show-off the new things she learned from the center.

We were disappointed, though, when Weena’s mother came. She didn’t talk to us or to anyone. She was texting on her cell phone all through out the session never even looking at what Weena was doing with her classmates. When the session ended. She just stood beside her husband and waited for the time to go. Contrary to what we expected from mothers who come from working abroad, she didn’t ask for Weena’s progress or performance in class. When Weena came out, she didn’t stretch her arms to give her a hug or ask her about the class, like the other mothers waiting outside. She just continued texting.

Weena, then, took her father’s hand and walked beside him as if she didn’t see her mother. She smiled and waved at us and gave each of us flying kisses then she hopped-skipped out of the center. Her mother came with her father two more times and the same thing happened.

If only Weena doesn’t have her mother’s eyes and mouth, we would think that the lady wasn’t her mother. Well, maybe, she just wasn’t showy or sweet like other mothers. But thinking of Weena and how charming and sweet the girl is, even a total stranger would be smitten.

Last I heard, the mother was back abroad..

*not real name