Ah, Unrequited Love
Posted: Wednesday, February 25, 2009
by Sandra E. Graham
My Books and Articles
Quietly she peeked into her parent's room and listened to their unified snoring. New Year's Eve hats and confetti littered the floor from last night's regalia. Sighing as she softly closed the door; it would be hours before they would wake for the day. The house was so cold and her bare feet slapped noisily against the hardwood hallway as she went back to her room.
A light tapping on her bedroom door drew Anna's attention. She looked up to watch her older sister enter the room with her suitcase in hand. Her sister's eyebrows raised, "Aren't you ready? We can't wait for your nails to dry."
"Oh, don't worry. We should have at least a half hour before Mika gets here." Anna continued to paint her nails, then recapped the bottle and placed it on her bedside stand.
"Are you scared?" asked her sister as she sat down beside Anna and placed her arm around her younger sister's shoulder.
"No. Are you?" Anna's eyes were large and bright, but her sister wasn't sure if the brightness was from dampness or excitement.
Suddenly several light taps rattled the window. Anna rushed over and looked down into the yard. In the gray light of early dawn she saw Mika standing in the cold, waving when he saw her in the window. His suitcase sat on the ground beside his knee. Reality rushed at her and her stomach felt queasy-but only for a moment.
Grabbing their coats and bags the two girls left the room and went down the steps together, never looking back as they crossed the foyer and out the front door. They would have to walk to the train station and it was very cold, this first day of January. Mika and Anna were eloping, with Anna's older sister going along as a witness?'.
Three young German children, Anna 6, Mika 5, and Anna's sister, all of 7. They made it as far as the train station, but three very young children alone in a train station trying to get tickets to the airport was bound to draw attention-and it did.
As police questioned the young lovers, it was found that they had had enough of Germany's cold winter and had planned to catch a flight to Africa, spend some quality time on the beach (they had packed swim suits, sunglasses, and floaties) after being married, of course.
Are kids more mature now days than they were when I was five or six??? Or is it something in the ozone layer that is creating these little miniature adults? I remember once when I must have been five and my older brother seven; I had been whipped by my mother for some indiscretion that required punishment (that part I don't remember). But I remember crying huge crocodile tears while my brother patted my shoulder, hugged me, and said, "Don't cry. We'll just run away and I won't let Mommy ever whip you again." Of course, my memory ends there, but I'm sure we never ran away-we weren't that brave!
Children today are exposed to much more adult surroundings than in my day. So, even though they are no more mature emotionally now than then, some children are more often allowed to venture into situations that are beyond their scope of comprehension. Television, video games, books, magazines and computers sometimes put our children's childhood' in jeopardy.
While this little story of elopement was certainly cute and gave us all thoughts of how adorable children can be, it also brings back the concerns of too much, too soon. I certainly hope their parents handled the whole situation delicately and with enough finesse to convince the children that another fifteen years or so would not be too long to wait for their next attempt at nuptial bliss.
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Sandra E. Graham, author, AMOS JAKEY and NICOLINA published by American Book Publishing. Sandra loves to write about people and if you enjoy reading about people, you will love these books. Her first two novels are historical/adventure/fiction of early 1900's America. Sandra also writes book reviews for authors through Book Pleasures (no charge for reviews). Visit her website for more information on her books that are in print now and reviews she has written.
http://www.sandragraham-articles-books.com
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Top-level comments on this article: (10 total)I feel so honored to be the first to read this story of the young imagination. Things have certainly changed since I was a child for sure. I agree with the Too Much, Too Soon theory. We took our time back in our days, and most of what we did, was just imaginary, and make believe. Now allot of young folks actually go through this. A little older perhaps, but allot younger that what we were when we left the nest. I, like you, would have never been that brave. I really enjoyed this Sandra, and what a story told. You had me from the start, and I just had to find out where you were going with this, and as usual, I was surprised, and intrigued. Thank you so much for this, very well done.....Your fan and friend in pen.....Gary. (I lost my silver) :(Thanks, Gary. I just happened to read about this little incident in a magazine while waiting for my husband to get a haircut. I thought it was really cute, but sometimes little kids scare me when they do things like that. I'm just glad it all worked out for the best.Thanks for reading and commenting.Sandra
Thank you for sharing. I really enjoy your articles. I watch my grandchildren in action and it is scary. ---Linda DThanks, Linda. I appreciate the kind words.Have a great day.Sandra
This is a wonderful article, very nicely done.Thank you,Michael, for reading and commeting.Sandra
I enjoyed the story very much, and am glad my children didn't try that, which they are past those ages, now I am dealing with the teenage years, and we all know how that goes lol.Thanks, Freida. Yeah, I know about the teenage years as well.Thanks for reading and commenting.Sandra
I dont think it is a matter of being brave I ran away from home as a child 34 years ago in a country that we had only just come to and have never returned I was lucky and survived but the idea of going out into the world now completely on my own scares me I think it was more a case of no brain no pain.Thanks for reading and commenting, Shirley. I think you're right, bravery has less to do with it than using your brain. But I certainly couldn't imagine running away to a foreign country--or even across town when I was that young!Thanks again and have a nice weekend.Sandra
Sandra, brilliant. What a sweet story that illustrates our youth and yet brings to mind the importance of not giving any more tools than this world already gives which cause our children to grow up too quickly. Blessings to you! TeresaThanks so much for reading and commenting.Have a great week.Sandra
Hi Sandra,Thanks for sharing your article with us. I seem to remember playing house a lot when i was young and talking about marriage at six or seven so I'm sure it is a concept most young children understand. of course minus the consequences! I would never have taken a train to the airport though. I made it as far as the front of neighborhood once and my parents made me sleep on the porch to teach me a lesson. huh, not sure that was the proper response. Oh well, I didn't do it again so who knows,Great story and excellent writing as always!Thanks, Myla, for reading and commenting.Have a great week.Sandra
hi sandra,well, at least they weren't saying the little girl was pregnant :)if all life could stay so simple, and honest, we might have hope.thanks for sharing,my best to you,sueThanks, Sue. Yes---simplicity.Thanks for reading and commenting.Sandra
Yes I do think that children are more mature at a very young age today,they have and want so much more,I enjoyed your story it was very cute and romantic,and also brave of the older sister looking out for the younger one.Thanks so much. I was certainly glad to learn that it all worked out well in the end. Children can put themselves in such dangerous situations. I am continually frightened and worry for my little ones.Thanks so much for reading and commenting.Sandra
A wonderful story Sandra, I thoroughly enjoyed it!
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