Just an average Tuesday evening after dinner. Or so it would seem.
Somebody starts bouncing a ball and a small crowd gathers.
It's a feel-good moment so somebody grabs a camera.
The toddler hears the laughter from his bed and emerges, begging to play too.
Nobody can resist that smile. Bedtime is forgotten.
This day has been full of feel-good moments. Some photographed. Some merely observed.
At the centre of it all is a Big Brother who has stepped up to the plate.
A Big Brother going in to bat for his Little Sister.
This is how it went...
Big Brother {on the phone}: Hey Ed can I have a play date with you on Monday...? OK cool. See you then.
Little Sister {listening in}: Ohhhh not fair! How come he gets a playdate and not me?
Mummy: Because he picked up the phone and invited someone over. You can too, you know.
LATER {Mummy is around the corner out of sight as this conversation takes place}... SOUND OF a Phone Ringing {Dash likes to have phone conversations on Speaker phone}
Big Brother: {Ring ring! Ring ring!} Hello its Dash here... um, Dash G.? My little sister Miss Fab was wondering if Ruby was free for a playdate? Tomorrow? Friday? Ohhh not til next week... OK. Thanks anyway.
FIVE MINUTES LATER
Dash {walking into the room while talking on the phone}: Hi its Dash here. Miss Fab was wondering would you like to have a playdate with her tomorrow? OK, can you ask your mum?... {pause}... oh you already have a friend coming over? OK. Thanks anyway. Bye.
Miss Fab: Is she busy?
Mummy {calling out}: Who was that Dash?
Dash: It was Yaz. She is busy until next week too.
Miss Fab: Oooohhhhhh!! Who am I going to play with?
Dash: Would you like to play with Miss Marvellous?
Miss Fab: Miss Marvellous! YES!! Yes a play with Miss Marvellous! Can you ring her Dash?
Dash: Sure.
{Ring ring. Ring ring.}
Miss Marvellous: Hello?
Dash: Hi Miss Marvellous its Dash here. Miss Fab was wondering if you would like a playdate?
Miss Marvellous: Yes. A playdate would be good.
Dash: OK, can you ask your mum what day...?
{a pause}
Miss Marvellous: My mum said Monday would be good.
Dash: OK, Monday then. Our house or your house?
Miss Marvellous: Your house?
Dash: Right see you on Monday then. Do you want to talk to Miss Fab...?
As Miss Fab eagerly grabs the phone and exits the room chattering excitedly to her friend, I felt a warm fuzzy glow steal over me. It has been a while since this Big Brother has shown such love and caring towards his sister, unprompted.
So later when that game of basketball broke out at bedtime, who was I to growl and chase people off to their beds? No, I ran to get my camera. And was pleasantly surprised that the warm fuzzies still lingers enough to make Dash willing to pose for a photo, cuddling his sister.
Times have been tough around here for a while. But things are looking up. ♥
