"Love cards."

She smiled with wide wet eyes. She held the card close, closed her eyes and thought to herself:

“What a wonderful child.”

He came in from taking out the garbage. He had brought the mail in first but had enough energy left to make a second trip outside. He just stood in the doorway for a second. His wife of over forty years was sitting at the table, a card pressed to her chest, a few tears drying on her cheeks, with the most pleasant smile plastered on her face.

He savored the view for a bit. Then he said:

“Hey Honey, what’s up?”

She opened her eyes, still wide with joy.

“Look what our Granddaughter made me.”

He took the card, handmade by a child of eight. It filled him with as much delight as it did his wife. He could picture the little tyke, crayon gripped with determination, her little tongue sticking out the side of her mouth, as the world outside meant nothing anymore. All that existed was her determination to make each letter perfect for Nanny.

He knew how intense her focus could be when it was something for Nanny. The art had to be just so. Purple cow, orange grass, pink trees…as background for two stick figures. Figues with not quite round heads and long enough arms to hold hands together…Nanny and their Granddaughter. It was a picture that caught all of the reality of love, without an ounce of artifice or accuracy.

It was the way an eight year old told a story as ancient as Human Beings.

He read her simple note to her Nanny:

“I love you so so so much. You are the best Nanny in the world. If you ever need any money, you can have my allowance. I will help you make chocolate no bake cookies …if you need me. Love you bunches of bunches. Penny.”

Now his eyes were as wide and shiny as his wife’s. He handed the Card back. The silence was long and comfortable.

Miles away…a little eight year old girl was humming to herself as she drew chalk Fairies and Princesses on broken sidewalks in front of her house. Wondering if Nanny would like her drawings. That made her smile.

“Nanny always likes my drawings.”