Honeysuckles and Roses

When Maylin Thompson died, he wanted to be buried with the body of a twelve-year old girl. A specific twelve-year old girl. The girl he was staring at now, her youthful naiveté and childish features doing something insane to his chest as he gazed. Redheaded, somewhat stringy, but when she grew older, oh she would be beautiful. And even if she wasn't, he would still love her. He would never forget the child she was, the incredible, beautiful, blithe figure dancing in a field of honeysuckles and roses.

"Mr. Maylin!" she swung in his direction, careening towards him with all the grace of a drunken cat. Laughing, she dumped herself into his arms and he caught her without great effort. He picked her up, spun her over his head, and placed her safely on the ground. Her face flushed as deep as her hair, and summer-tanned skin contrasted nicely with her yellow dress.

"Helga, darling, leave the nice man alone," a woman with flaming red hair walked to them, smiling.

"No problem at all, Helen," Maylin smirked, settling the child on his lap. "Have you need of anything else?" he looked at the woman.

A short, stout man with brown hair came up from behind her and placed a hand on Helen's shoulder, "No, I think that shall be all for now, Maylin. We do appreciate your services."

"Your eyes are funny," the little girl on his lap sang.

"Helga!" the red haired woman's mouth dropped open in shock. Helga's eyes immediately took on a watery glaze. She knew she had done something bad.

"No, no, it is all right ma'am," Mayling hurriedly covered the child's transgression. "Children are naturally curious about things that are unfamiliar to them." He looked at the girl and smiled gently, "That is because I am from another part of the world."

Her eyes went impossibly wide. Blue sparkled against the backdrop of flying red hair and green grass. "The world!" her mouth formed an 'o' of surprise.

"Yes, little lady," Maylin nodded, "I come from the Far East."

"Does everyone there have weird eyes like you?"

"Helga! That's enough," Helen was about ready to take her child for a spanking, but again Maylin intervened.

"Please, madam. I am not in the least insulted," he gave her a warm smile before turning his attention to the girl. "Yes, my sweet, everyone around me has eyes like this," he pointed to his oddly narrowed orbs.

Helga reached up with prodding fingers and poked at the skin around his eyes before turning her digits to her own face. She pulled at her eyes until they were about as narrow as his. "I can go to the Far East!" she squealed in excitement.

Maylin laughed out loud at her motion and gave her shoulder a quick squeeze. "When you are older, my sweet, I shall take you to the Far East."

She squirmed in his lap, "Promise?"

"I solemnly swear," Maylin nodded. Helga grinned, all teeth and dimples, and slid from his lap to chase a butterfly.