Super Emerson

Emerson stands, barely, 3 feet tall, has curly brown hair, brown eyes that laugh, and a killer smile, even with the missing front tooth. Emerson is a cutie, but at 7 years old, he's a wee bit young for me. When we first met, he was eating lunch at the soup kitchen. Whenever I looked his way, he'd hide behind the container of spoon on the table, and would peer at me among the spoons.

I guess I'm okay now, because yesterday Emerson was determined to help me with my chores. I had to peel a million hot boiled potatos in 5 minutes, and Emerson apparently decided I needed help. Too short to reach the pot, I'd hand him a potato, and would hand him additional unpeeled potatos as needed. When I got behind in serving the refrescos (drinks), Emerson would grab two at a time and take them to the waiting kids.

But the best was when Emerson decided he'd help clean up. He dried bowls and cups, but only the green cups. And only the green cups could go on the bottom shelf. He wiped down all the tables, interrupting my dishwashing to have me put more cleaning soap on his rag. Then he decided to sweep the floor. He moved the tables so he could be sure to reach the nooks and cranies. The tables are higher than Emerson is tall, so I didn't quite how he managed to move them. So I started calling him Super Emerson. That made him giggle. Such a delightful giggle. That innocent happy little kid giggle. Which made me laugh, which made him giggle more, and so on.

The kid's a more devoted sweeper than I. After he finished the dining area, he started pulling out the boxes and bags from under the shelves in the kitchen area clean under the shelves. We were going to be there all day sweeping given Emerson's needto do a deep spring cleaning. Finally his mother told him to stop. He does this at home, she said. That kitchen floor has never been so clean!

But today there was no Super Emerson to help me. He had to visit his aunt. I hope there will be more cleaning and giggling next week.

cheers.