Date:         Thu, 7 Aug 1997 08:32:33 -0500
From: Phanny <corbett@SLUAXA.SLU.EDU>
Subject:      SUB: CONTEST: Jo

Jo

        She didn't know I was watching as she danced on her tiptoes
through the green grass. It was the sweet sound of laughter that drew
my eyes to this child. It almost sounded like she was being tickled.
        "Look Mommy! Flutterbies!" she smiled.
          With tiny tanned arms reaching upward, she chased the yellow
whispers.  Against the powder blue sky she looked like a cloud in the
bright white cotton dress. Sun kissed hair bouncing in the August
breeze.  She wasn't even watching where she was going. Once, she
looked my way to say "Watch me.  I'm going to catch them for you,
Mommy!"  Her chubby fingers grasping only air over and over as the
backyard was filled with her melodic summertime laughter.
         A tiny one rested for a brief moment in a small patch of
white daisies. I watched as her eyes traced every movement in awe of
this delicate creature.  She ran to catch it but it flew away. And as
she sighed with hands on her hips watching it float higher my heart
smiled.
        I don't know which pleased me more, the small white daisy she
picked for me that afternoon or the memory of Jo chasing butterflies.