The Joy of Childhood

“One, two, three, ready or not here I come!”

Avery’s shout warned the other children that the game was beginning.  Most of them had found places to hide and with indrawn breaths crouched lower or froze in place, trying to make themselves as small as possible. 

The gentle flap of butterfly wings had distracted Terry.  A monarch butterfly had come to rest on one of the flowers in her mother’s flower garden.  Enchanted she forgot about the game.

Avery came up beside her to see what had kept her from hiding and he too became transfixed at the beauty and wonder of the seldom seen insect.

“Look, how beautiful it is.”  Terry whispered, as the rest of the children came out of hiding to gaze in amazement at the orange and black wings.