by S. G. Harsha

Created on: August 28, 2011

Baby Momoka smiled and cackled a laugh sounding like a cherub basking in the glory of life.  Grandma Shige tickled Momoka’s chin again.  Each time Momoka gave the same smile and laugh as if it was still new.  It never got old for Momoka, but Shige wanted to play a different game.  She hid her face behind one hand then peeked out.  Momoka laughed again, a new laugh this time.  There was joy when Shige’s face came into view, and curiosity when behind the hand.

Momoka reached out and put her five digits around Shige’s little finger, and then pulled urgently.  When the hand didn’t move Momoka whined and crinkled her chin in a frown. Shige let her hand be pulled away and Momoka’s frown instantly vanished. Shige tickled Momoka’s chin and the sound of cherubs filled the room again.

“Grandma loves you!” Shige said.

“Ba ba ba pfpfpft.” Momoka responded and then stuck her hand in her mouth.

The front door opened and Momoka’s mother, Mayumi, came into the room balancing flowers and wrapped boxes in her hands.  Toukun, her husband, followed behind with what had to be a cake box.

“Waa ahhh!” Momoka cried excitedly.

When the table was set, Momoka was in her high-chair with a single cake-slice topped with a pacifier shaped candle.  Shige sat next to her with the rest of the cake and two large candles in the shape of 61. Toukun and Mayumi sang happy birthday and Momoka cackled while clapping along; out of sink but happily unaware.

When the singing finished Shige said, “happiness to the old and to the new.” Then she blew out the candles on both of their cakes. 

Everyone clapped and cheered.  Momoka shrieked with delight.

Shige removed the candle from Momoka’s cake and handed it to her.

“Gamma!” She said cheerfully and then stuck the icing laden candle in her mouth. 

Shige cheered with unhinged joy!

“Your first word is Grandma!” she cried.

“Eeeeh!” Momoka muttered around the pacifier.  Her eyes crinkled as she smiled and gnawed on her candle contentedly.  

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