PEEK-A-BOO

 

I love a good game of peek-a-boo…it’s quite simple but it’s excitement is immense…all you need are your two hands, your face…and a baby’s innocence.

You hide your face behind your hands…you’re gone…the baby doesn’t know what to do…you remove your hands and the baby laughs as you say peek-a-boo.

It’s the first game you play with your baby…perhaps the first time you realize how your life will never be the same…and you play it over and over and over again…until it gives way to other games.

I remember playing with my children and grandchildren…I remember the time and place…I remember not giving a second thought…that they might be laughing at my face.

But I don’t remember, as a baby, my parents playing peek-a-boo…then again…I was a baby…and how many babies do?

When I take a moment to stop…to pause and think it through…I can’t remember being on the receiving end in a game of peek-a-boo.

Until yesterday on our morning walk…at the marina…by the sea…when a baby manatee decided…he’d play peek-a-boo with me.

Since the circumstances were a little different…after all he was swimming in a pool…we played this game of peek-a-boo by baby manatee's rules.

He’d hide beneath the water…then pop up for a second or two…I imagine if manatees could talk…he’d be saying peek-a-boo.

I was surprised the first time I saw him…and laughed without inhibition or shame…and every time he’d peek-a-boo…my reaction was the same.

I’d search the water wondering…where he went…wondering what to do…then laughter would erupt every time he’d peek-a-boo.

We played our game for a while…and when I finally bade the baby manatee adieu…

I thanked him for letting me be on the receiving end…in his game of peek-a-boo.