Playground Politics

Took the little one to the playground yesterday in the evening.
Only after she had preemptorily ordered her Ma away, saying that 'Pipi will manage me well.'
Unused to having so much faith reposed in me - that too by a four year old.
I take her down to the building park where she plays with her friends everyday.

Seems a happy enough place at first glance. Teeming over with kids of all shapes and sizes.
And their caregivers. And their paraphernalia - dolls, cycles, balls and the water bottles.
Not to mention the occasional harried parent/guardian issuing stern instructions to their respective wards.
And the children running amok, enjoying their few hours of relatively unsupervised, unstructured play.

Look a little closer and the perfect picture breaks up somewhat.
You see a little girl and you immediately know something's not quite right with her.
The thing is, you'd probably pass her by with her gap toothed smile and her repetitive gestures.
But the other children give her a wide berth - her solitude makes you stop and notice her difference.

The cliques keep forming and breaking in front of your eyes.
It could be something as innocuous as a smaller child wanting to play with an older group.
They call her close, ask her her name and start laughing as she struggles to pronounce it just so.
She smiles on, unaware that the joke is on her. Still eager to please as they run away to play by themselves.

You are also struck by how well these children are clothed for rough and tumble play.
Some in party dresses, almost. Shoes to match. And almost all of them carrying Barbies to boot.
But you still see a tyke who is playing by herself, using her imagination to turn the playground into a big wide ocean.
And another little person who is busy hunting for ladybirds in the green.

And where is your little person in all of this?
She is bright-eyed and bushy tailed as she saunters in. Plays Hide and Seek with you tirelessly.
Till she spots a gaggle of girls holding hands together in the middle of the park.
She trundles over and introduces herself. Only to be royally ignored.

As her smile wanes, you find your own heart sinking.
And you know that these are her own battles to fight.
Yet something inside begins hurting as she looks around for a playmate.
Finds her beloved 'Samu' eventually. But you hope she learns to walk alone.