Josiah

Some if my earliest memories are of those wonderful weeks my uncles and auntie would come to visit my family. My mom's younger brother and sister would come to visit two or three times a year. They couldn't come as often because they were still in school. My mom would invite Josiah and Souletta for a few weeks in the summer and usually for winter break. A few days before they were to arrive my mom would scrub down the whole apartment, wash all the sheets, and stock the fridge with all their favorite foods. I tried to help her out as much as possible. We didnt have to work too hard because my mom kept our apartment clean.  Then Josiah and Souletta would arrive late at night, tired and yet bustling with energy. They had driven across two states to visit my mom. My mom came flying out of the kitchen in to Josiah's arms.Then she grabbed Souletta's waist and they waltzed up and down the sidewalk laughing until they cried. My father stood there watching this, as he always did. He was smiling, happy to see his wife so excited, My father embraced Josiah and they exchanged a few words. My mom was chattering to her sister in English, I couldn't understand a word of it. I just laughed along with them, squealing with delight when Josiah swung me up onto his shoulders. Soon enough my father led the way back into our apartment.
     My mom had prepared the living room with sleeping mats, blankets, and pillows. I was still on Josiah's shoulders until my father gently lifted me down. Josiah took a seat at the table that was tucked in the corner. He hadn't finished growing into his lanky 18-year old body, and his legs stuck out from under his chair. My father carried me to my bed and I was too tired to protest. My father stretched out on my bed and closed his eyes. I snuggled in close to him and tried to match my breathing to his. When he began snoring loudly, I giggled sleepily. Even though my father rarely told me that he loved me, those nights I   spent tucked in with him convinced me that I held a special piece of his heart.
    I woke up in the morning alone, but I could smell my mom cooking breakfast for her family. I padded out to the living room and jumped on Josiah's head. He was still sleeping and I guess jumping on his head didn't bother him a bit because he just rolled over and continued sleeping. My mom scolded me from the kitchen and told me to come help her carry out the dishes. When everything as ready my mom allowed me to wake up Josiah and Souletta. They came to the table with disheveled hair and sleepy eyes. I couldn't help laughing at them as my mom dished out the Tamin Kyaw and Chinbough Kyaw. We ate hungrily, My mom and Souletta cleared the table and went to wash the dishes.I climbed into Josiah's lap and made myself comfortable. He could speak my native tongue well. My parents hadn't taught me English yet because they wanted me to have a good grasp of my native tongue, They said I could learn English when I went to school the next year. It wasnt a problem for me, except when I tried to eavesdrop on my parent's conversations. Josiah asked me about my friends (I didn't have many. My parents were my best friends), my toys (I had enough. I promised to show my new ones to him before he left), and if I loved him. I surely loved uncle Josiah. He was my favorite playmate in the world.