A star for little Joe

     Night- time. Rain falls.

   Little Joe, five years old, is at home. He lives in a big city. The city of México. He looks out the living-room window. The raindrops fall, slip, sound. He scans the dark sky. Black and gray clouds. He wishes he could see a star. Impossible.

   How beautiful it would be to see the stars. The clouds run past pushed by the wind. Now the sky has a newly scrubbed face. Little Joe goes upstairs to bed. His bedroom is on the second floor. He puts on his pajamas, brushes his teeth, washes his hands, gives a good-night kiss to his mom and dad and climbs into bed.

   From his bed he can see the sky. A sky filled with stars!

Selecting a beautiful and brillant one, he calls:

–Little star, come down to play.

   The star remains set in the sky, blinking her light as if winking her eye. The child meditates: How did the little star reach the heavens?

Did she fly?  Could a boy fly that high? 

He calls again:

–Come on little star, come down!

   He is certain the star is listening.

   The child sleeps.

   Hours pass. Complete silence. From the street the nigth watchman’s whistle sounds in the darkness. In the small bedroom something is happening. The room is lit to a daytime brightness.

   Little Joe awakes. From the sky the star has extended a bridge of light that touches the forehead of Little Joe. At last they can converse.

                                                                 

–I have come to grant a wish. What is your desire?

–To greet you. How did God create you?

–The same as you little one. With great love.

–Are you happy up there?

–Yes, very happy giving light and granting wishes.

–Are you cold?

–No, my child. We are never cold.

   Little Joe sits up in bed.

–You know, little star, I have a baby sister.

–In the crib?

–Yes, her name is Yoli. Sometimes we fight. She takes my toys, screams and kicks. She doesn’t allow me to do my homework.

–Little Joe, do you love your sister?

–She’s a girl!

–Girl’s are sweet.

–My sister bites!

–Be good to her, little one.

   The star sweetly asks:

–Do you know how to write?

–Of course! I can make sticks and circles.

–Do you draw?

–I can draw a crocodile and a lion, too. My notebook is on the table would you care to see it?

   The star shines her light on the book.

–Oh, how pretty!

   Little Joe smiles. He lifts his hands.

–Little star I want to give light like you do.

–Would you like to be a star?

–No, stars are far away and lonely.

–I’m not alone, Little Joe. I have brothers and sisters in the sky.

–Why not give me your light and stay with me?

   The star sighs:

–If I stay with you, what will you illuminate?

–Everything! My house, my school, my friends. Don’t go away.

Stay and be my friend.

–I must go now. I will return tomorrow.

–Tomorrow? Really?  Will you truly come tomorrow?

–I promise.

 –Then I believe you. Shall we play now?

–Now you must sleep. Tomorrow I will teach you games and many riddles.

–Fine. Until tomorrow.

–Until tomorrow, my Little Joe.

   The next day in Kindergarten the child writes pages and pages of exercises. The teacher stamps a yellow bee in his book with the message: Good work!

   He sings with his friends: “Even-Uneven, let us play. He who is left alone, is the loser-hey! If go stay in the mountains, to the center you will go. If you stay in the mountains to the center you will go.

Even –uneven, let us play. He, who is left alone, is the loser -Hey!”

   He plays games: “Doña Blanca is covered with pillars of gold and

silver. You must break through a pillar to see Doña Blanca. Who is this young Quixote chasing Doña Blanca? Little Joe answers: I am the young Quixote chasing Doña Blanca. When a tight circle is formed to protect Doña Blanca, Little Joe asks each child who tries to enter the circle:

   “Is this made of ivory, of gold or paper?” He tests his strength and breaks the circle. He runs, he plays and he forgets the star.

   At noon -time he returns home. He kisses his parents, washes up and sits down to lunch.