I was always too short to reach, too little, too quiet, too shy. Standing on my tip-toes, purple sneakers with baby blue laces, edges dirty from the park mud, I was a thirsty baby - tongue sticking out like a panting dog.
Waiting for my mum to hold me up so I could lap up the water. She held me as long as I wanted, she was so patient.
Children spun around me, I was one of them. Giggles echoed and bounced from one corner of the playground to the next.
It was hot, my hair was sticky on my forehead. I wanted my mum to lift me up again to taste the cold sweet water on my tongue. I felt her love as she held me, and then a quick playful flick of water in my little brown face. More giggling.
She tied my hair back slowly so it wouldn’t fall in the water, she tied my shoelaces with the double knot so I wouldn’t fall.