One Thursday Morning

It was early one Thursday morning when he was roused from his sleep, when the sun had not even risen. Suddenly, there were other people in the house, not just the 2 he often sees, but others. They came and took away some huge boxes while he was made to change his clothes. He was then hustled into a vehicle and was driven off to this bright, huge building with lots and lots of people. After that, it was a blur, as people came and went, surrounding him seeking attention. He basked in their attention, not knowing that the man he was so familiar with was looking constantly at him as if to capture a mental video sequence of him for rememberance.
Then the photo taking began. He had already become quite accustomed to that and didn't find it strange. But then, there was a moment when he was huddled together with the 2 familiar adults, praying, a familiar activity, yet in an unfamiliar place, that he may have sensed something was amiss. The man carried and hugged him, smoldering him with kisses, not unusual, but yet quite excessively then. Is the man leaving him? The man he called Daddy. He gave Daddy a long big hug, listening to his breath and heartbeat as Daddy silently prayed for God's protection over him and remembered the boy's smell and embrace.

Mummy came and assured him that Daddy will be back in 10 days. How long is 10 days? Will he forget Daddy's face?
The 10 days came and went, and Caleb still remembers, the face, the hug, the breath, the smile, the play, the catching, his name..."Deh-Deh!".