A kiss makes it all better

“My 3-year-old grandson, Caleb, sometimes spends the afternoon with me when my daughter needs to get work done or has appointments to keep. He’s such a sweet kid, and being with him always brightens my day—but one particular afternoon, he really tickled me pink.

“After some shopping, we were about to stop off at the bank when we ran into my old neighbor, Mickey. He’d moved from the area a few years before Caleb was born, but happened to be back visiting his family, and I was thrilled to introduce my grandson to him and catch up.

“While we were chitchatting, I felt Caleb tugging at my sleeve, saying, ‘Grammy, my shoe is untied!’ Mickey smiled and said, ‘Let me. I taught my own grandson how to tie his shoes—I’m an old pro.’

“As he bent over to tie my grandson’s shoes, I noticed Caleb staring intently at the top of my friend’s head. Suddenly, Caleb reached out, gently stroking the bald spot on Mickey’s scalp.

“‘Uh-oh, Mr. Mickey,’ he said gravely. ‘You have a big hole in your head. Does it hurt?’ After a pause, Mickey murmured his reply, ‘Only on the inside, Caleb…only on the inside.’

“I grabbed my grandson’s hand and tried to redirect the conversation as heat spread over my face. But I couldn’t help but laugh when Caleb leaned forward, kissed the bald spot as Mickey tied his shoe and said, ‘There! Grammy always says kisses make ouchies better!’”

—Leigh Mich, 58, San Antonio