On Sunday night, just after sunset, I heard Timmy in his backyard screaming, “Illuminate!” Being ever curious, I decided to investigate. I started by peeking out of the window, and watching him. He was running around his backyard with a flashlight. Every so often he stopped, pointed the flashlight at something, screamed, “Illuminate!” and turned the flashlight on. Then, he turned it off, and repeated the whole process.
I watched him shine the flashlight on the swing-set. Then on the tool-shed. Then on the grill.
I decided to visit.
As I approached the fence between our yards, I called out, “Hi, Timmy!”
“Hi, Mr. William!” I heard him on the other side of the fence. “What cha doing outside?”
“I heard you, and was wondering what you’re doing.”
“Oh! Did I disturb you? Was I that loud? I’m sorry!”
“No, no, you didn’t disturb me. But I am curious.”
“About what I’m doing?”
“Yes.”
He backed away from the fence so he could see the top of my head better, and I could peek over at him. “I’m pretending I a great wizard. Like Harry Potter.”
“Oh?”
He waved the flashlight, and switched it on and off. “This is my magic wand. I point it at something in the dark. Something I want to see in the dark. Then I say the magic word, Illuminate! And my magic wand shows me that thing.”
“Oh. That sounds like fun.”
“It is! Wanna watch! I’ll show you.” He ran to the back gate of his yard, pointed his flashlight at it, and belted out, “Illuminate!” as he turned on the flashlight. He looked back at me. “See? It works!”
I watched Tommy for a bit as he illuminated everything in his backyard, then I wished him a good night, and went back inside.
And I wished I was able to find so much fun in such simple things in life, and wondered where and when I’d lost that ability to see the magic all around me, and the wonder of our world.
I wished I was more like Little Tommy.
It’s April 11th, the 9th day of the A to Z Challenge for 2016. Only 17 more letters to write stories for this month.
Please, go explore the A to Z Challenge, and the sites of others who are participating in this adventure.
My Soul's Tears 