The Power of a Smile

The little guy was eight months old when my daughter started taking him to an informal playgroup. He would sit and watch the other children and laugh at their antics. This made him very popular! Three-year-old Olivia was especially entranced by him. She talked to him, patted his golden curls, and brought him toys. One day she went to her mother and said, "Mama, I love him."Her mother had been chatting with a friend, so she had to ask, "Who?" "Wyatt, Mama. I love Wyatt!" Her mother smiled and said that was nice and Olivia went back to play. A while later she went to her mother again and said, "Can I marry him, Mama?" "Marry who?" her mother asked. Mama clearly wasn't paying attention. "Wyatt, Mama! Can I marry Wyatt?" "You'll have to ask him," her mother said. So she did. The little guy stared at her solemnly while she said, "Wyatt, will you marry me someday?" A big, sunny smile was his answer. She squealed in excitement and ran off calling, "Mama! Mama! He said, 'Yes!'"