Thomas age 5 Part 2

"You're doing it wrong, Thomas" said my mother. A few years after Thomas got his mother and himself in trouble; it was time for lessons with her. It wasn't like ABC's or numbers, it was about silly things. One day his mother would take him outside on a sunny day and tell him to close his eyes and tell her where the sun was. He pointed where it was. She asked how he knew; he replied that he could see the light through his eyelids. She had him cover his eyes and spin around and try again. This struck him as odd but these were more fun them practicing his spelling with Mrs. Crabapple, his tutor. She said "No peaking!" He covering his eyes and spun like a top. After about 15 seconds he fell down and his mother helped him up complimenting him on keeping his eyes covered still even when falling. Then she asked him again, "where is the Sun?" Without the light as a clue he turned slowly around until he was facing the sun again. She said very well, how did you know where it was this time? He responded I felt it on my face, it was warm. Good Thomas now where am I? Your right there mommy! No, cover your eyes, spin around and try to find me like you did the sun. But, Mother, how can I find you? Thomas, trust me.

Thomas spun around a second time with his eyes closed and this time stopped without falling down. He tried to feel her like she was the sun, he turned slowly again and could tell that he was facing the sun from the feeling of warmth on his face. He looked right and left for the same feeling. A voice behind him said "How does the sun feel?" Can I uncover my eyes? Not yet Thomas. It feels umm happy? Does it feel alive? I guess so. Can you hear smell or taste it? No, of course not Mommy! If you could, what would it be? Like singing, lemonade, and pie, is that right mommy? No Thomas, that is enough for today.

The next day was rainy and it was time for another lesson. Thomas, cover your eyes and spin again and try to feel me, use more than just your sight. Thomas was determined to do good today. He spun around and felt for his mother. Listened for her heartbeat, tried to smell her, thought of what she looked like. Maybe she was playing a trick on him, he learned that most of his family likes to get him in trouble and then laugh at him. He was going to cheat them, his sister Lara said that it was o.k. to cheat if you don't get caught. He made a little crack in his fingers and peeked through, there was no mommy, and he looked left and right through his finger. Then he shouted "Hey you cheated!" His mommy tapped him on the back of his head and said that trying to cheat when you are learning is the worst thing you can do. He turned around and she was still not there. He said how did you do that? She replied "Well I am a witch." Cool! He said do you have a pointy hat and ride around a broomstick? That is not important right now, let's continue with the lesson, this time you can keep your eyes open, but it is easier with your eyes closed. O.k. I trust you; he closes his eyes and trying again. He is feeling around like he is looking for the sun, in one direction he feels a getting warmer sensation but not the same "happy" feel as he did from the sun. Feels a little sad yet just as alive, he touches his mother and opens his eyes. Very good Thomas, how did you find me? I felt you; I could feel you coming from here. What did you feel Thomas? I felt sad coming from you mammy, why are you sad? O.k. try it again. This time he can't feel anything at all from anywhere. How did you do that? I couldn't feel you at all. His mother told him about protecting your heart and feelings from others. A few weeks later, he can find her anywhere in the house and tell her from anyone else. One afternoon, over lunch he told his mom that he felt father one day when looking for her and he got a little lost. He said that his father felt empty yet hungry and that he was scared. His mother told him that was one of the things that she was showing him. After a month of lessons he could hide himself emotionally. "If you do this and do it right, you will have a leg up in the rest of them" The rest of who mommy? Its three months to your sixth birthday