“…Eyeballs…” Bk 1: 8. Marionella
Hey! You Got Eyeballs In There?
By Kate Chamberlin
As Grace grows up, some of her stories are happy, some trying, some enlightening, and a few themes are sad, but, they’re all the warp and woof of what goes into the tapestry of life we call Family. The daily living skills and techniques demonstrated by the fictional characters in these stories are valid, tried and true.
#1. If You Can’t See…
#3. The Night Search For A Missing Puppy
#4. JUST DUCKY
#6. Grace, Martha, and The Sleep Shirt Solution
“Buckle up,” Grace’s Dad sang in his off-key tenor’s voice. “It’s over the river and through the woods to Grandma’s house we go!”
Grace put Goldie, her Golden Retriever puppy, on the floor at her feet, placed her folded long, white cane next to her seat and buckled her seat belt, Visiting her Mother’s parents on their farm was one of Grace’s favorite places to go.
Grace’s cousins, Martha and Janey with their families were already at the farm when she and her parents drove up the stone lane to the old farm house.
After hugs and hellos all around, the grown-ups slipped into talking about things that bored the cousins.
“Grandma Kate,” Martha said munching on popcorn. “Would you tell us a story?”
“Sure,” Grandma Kate said, slowly rocking in her wicker rocker on the wide front porch with her old guide dog at her feet. “Which one would you like to hear?”
“Marionella!” Grace and Janey called together. Martha had so much popcorn stuffed into her mouth that a weird sound came out. It made the girls giggle.
“Stories always start out: Once upon a time, so:
Once upon a time, a long time ago, on this very farm. Mommee and Poppee (my aunt and uncle) adopted a boy named George. In time, they thought they’d like to adopt another child. They asked George what he thought about that idea.
“About you and Poppee adopting another kid,” George said as they sorted out the clean laundry. He was 12 and felt very good about helping make this serious family decision. “I don’t want anyone older than me and she should be a girl.”
After long months of waiting and many trips to Ecuador, 3 year old Marionella came to live with George, Mommee, and Poppee.
“Marionella doesn’t speak English yet,” Mommee said. “They spoke Spanish in the orphanage. But, I’m sure she’ll learn English quickly.”
“Cool!” George said, “I’ll use my Spanish on her. I wondered what good it would be, now I know.”
“O.K. We can use both, for a while,” Mommee said, brushing Marionella’s long brown hair.
Marionella sat on Mommee’s lap and didn’t say anything.
When they tucked Marionella into her twin bed at night, Mommee said kissing her forehead, “Good night, Marionella. I love you.”
Poppee said giving her a hug, “Sweet dreams, Marionella.”
George said giving her a high-five, “Hasta manana, Marionella.”
Marionella looked at them with her big, serious, brown eyes but didn’t say anything.
Every morning, they’d name the clothes she wore.
“Marionella, this is a shirt,” Mommee said as she helped Marionella button up the front.
“Marionella, these are your jeans,” Poppee said guiding her foot into the denim pant leg.
“Zapatos,” George proudly said flipping one sneaker at her.
Marionella caught the sneaker but didn’t say anything.
The next week, Mommee took Marionella to Nursery School.
“Good morning, Marionella,” her nursery school teacher said,
“bonjour,” said a little girl clutching a cloth doll.
“Guten morgen,” said a boy playing with blocks.
Marionella let go of Mommee’s hand but didn’t say anything.
Day after day, week after week, they would teach her new English words.
“This is chicken, Marionella.” Mommee said stabbing a piece with the fork,
“This is rice, Marionella,” Poppee said scooping up a spoonful
“Drink your leche, Marionella,” George said between gulps of his own milk.
Marionella ate her dinner but didn’t say anything.
Night after night, at tuck in time, Mommee said, “Good night, Marionella. I love you.”
Poppee said, “Sweet dreams, Marionella. I love you.”
George said, “Te quiero, Marionella.”
Marionella hugged Mommee and said, “I love you.”
She hugged Poppee and said “I love you.”
And she hugged George and said, “I love you.”
Mommee, Poppee, and George were so surprised to hear Marionella say something, and to say it in English. It called for a group hug, so that’s what they did with laughter and tears.”
“And, do you know what?” Grandma Kate asked Grace, Janey, and Martha.
“What!” they asked.
My cousin, “Marionella, hasn’t stopped talking yet!”
“Your story ended just in time,” Grandpa Carl said, standing at the screen door. “Dinner’s almost ready.”
“Well then,” Grandma Kate said getting out of her rocking chair. “Let’s have our own group hug and head in to wash up.” So, that’s what they did