Maya's Smile
Submitted by: Loretta Wilcox
Author: Unknown
Date Sumbitted: Feb 27, 2006
Maya (pronounced my-uh) was named after my favorite author and poet , Maya Angelou. And like her namesake, Maya is wise, more wise than her six years. With her four front teeth missing, and eyes that sparkle like fourth of July, she is a teeny, doll-like darling. Because she has had a lot of health problems, she is smaller than most girls her age, a fact that has made her self-conscious, but also more sensitive to others' feelings. She would often remark "Oh, poor him!" when she would see someone lonely or sick, or in need.
Last year, Maya was in Kindergarten. One day she came home from school, bubbling over with excitement. "Mama, guess what!" She hurled at me as she bounced in the front door. "Guess what -- there's a new girl in my class and she doesn't speak any English and I'm her new best friend. I decided today!" she proclaimed jubilantly.
"Honey, slow down." I told her, laughing at her exuberance.
Maya does and says everything with exuberance. Finally she slowed down enough to tell me about a new girl who arrived from Mexico that day. Her name was Stephanie, and that's is the extent of her English. Her name. So Maya took it upon herself to become her best friend. It never occurred to her that Stephanie's Spanish and Maya's English might be a problem. To a five year old, communication is taken for granted. All Maya cared about was that this new little girl cried all day and had no one to talk to.
When it came time for the Halloween party, I met Stephanie.
She clung to Maya like spaghetti noodles cooked together, clearly scared and withdrawn from contact with anyone else. Never once smiling, she sat as the other kids played Halloween games, only watching the laughter and the fun, never even attempting to join in. Her teacher later told me that Maya was the ONLY one Stephanie would sit with at lunch or play with at recess. She was afraid to speak and never participated in class. The really amazing thing was that Maya didn't know a word of Spanish.
The days flew by, and each day Maya would come home from school babbling about her day, how it went, what Stephanie learned, etc. I usually mumbled "that's nice honey," too "busy" to take the time to really listen to my daughter. I never realized what I was missing until the day her teacher called to ask me to teach the class sign language for the end of the year Kindergarten program. She also told me what a wonderful child Maya was, what a good friend, and so on. I was pleased, but the impact of what she was saying didn't sink in until I went to teach.
Maya's desk was next to Stephanie's. I remembered meeting Stephanie months earlier when I went to help with the class Halloween party. That withdrawn, paralyzed-with-fear little girl was now a radiant, confident, happy child. Her big brown eyes were as sparkly as Maya's. And she smiled! I couldn't believe the transformation! She still spoke very little English, but now she tried to participate, a change her teacher told me only recently took place. As the teacher and I talked, I watched Maya and Stephanie together. Most of their communication was pointing, helping, gesturing.
And smiling.
Maya would look into her little friend's eyes and smile the sweetest, widest smile that would melt your heart. And Stephanie would smile right back, a shy, priceless smile.
Her teacher told me of the gradual transformation that had taken place. She told me how day after day, Maya would sacrifice her free time to sit patiently with her scared little friend, often defending her to other kids, always kind, and never, ever gave up on Stephanie. My eyes filled with tears as she described my little teeny girl's tremendous heart and selflessness.
When Maya and I were alone that night, I told her how proud I was of her, how she was a true friend. I admitted that I could learn a thing or two from her beautiful example of friendship. I then asked her how she did it. How she created this amazing friendship without a word of language. My blue-eyed angel looked up at me and said "I smiled."
She told me how every time Stephanie would cry or look sad, she would just do her best to reassure her with a smile, sticking close to her, always letting her know she had a friend, and that friend was for keeps.
Maya and Stephanie had first grade class together this year, and next year will again be in the same class for second grade. Every time I see her, I remember the scared little girl and how my own little girl was a true friend.