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I met her and her mummy at a wash salon about one year ago. That was my first time to go to public wash salon -- in students hostel i didn't have to -- and saw a Chinese like woman with a baby sitting in the cart clothed in lovely pink. (I don't like pink color except that it is for little children.) We smiled to each other and then, I went to her and asked her how to use the wash machine, though I am quite familiar with the German language and was just too sluggish to read the directions for use. Of course I asked her in German. But she answered me in English "I don't speak German". Oh, I thought it's quite odd that now I must explain to her that I can read German but just for my sluggishness ... you see, one should never want to get such petty gains, :-) Anyway, we got in communication and i found out that she was coming to Germany with her husband, a British, who is naturally the baby's father and taught Business English for private language school here in Duesseldorf. The baby was not sleeping, instead, she opened her big black eyes which looked perplexed, however, with little curiosity. She was only seven months old.
Since I was facing losing my partner of language exchange - with a German young man who leaned Chinese by me and in return correct my speaking English - I went to see May and Melissa every one or two weeks, of course "by permission of May" I tried talking with her husband Mark about various topics. But then, that funny thing happened: Mark is a very quiet person, certainly it lied on my poor English too, anyway, we both were getting lost the interest to talk, especially I, who originally wanted to practise my speaking English, got more and more attracted by the little girl who was growing up day by day, with more and more interesting gestures and features. And she's getting every time prettier! Her hair turns in dark brown, fine and soft like the hair of most European people. Her eyes remain black and bright, shining with purity and the enthusiastic curiosity about this world. From her nature she is quiet and peaceful too. When she is tumbled she'll forget the pain right away by a little comfort like a hug or a ringing bell. She always smiles, so quiet and so lovely, as she knew all the people love her and she gives these people the greatest happiness. Mark once said, yes, she gives me the courage for life.
About Mark and May, he, 46, she, 38, both quite average or rather inconspicuous people, and not handsome, are living their life peaceful through. Perhaps May did have prosperous dreams, she spent 10 years in England, long-time study, then married Mark, then gave up her job for Melissa. She once said to me, if it is possible don't marry a "Gui Lao" - she is a Cantonese, and "Gui Lao" means foreigner. But Mark told me, he entered university when he was 41, and he met May at the very first day of his study. He seems not very care for May, after dinner he usually take his book, however, when they decide to buy something, it is May who has the last word.
The little girl Melissa is now 21 months old! I have been seeing her growing up - learned sitting, going, and because she lives with parents from two totally different cultures, she begins very late with speaking. Her mother used to decide to speak only Cantonese with her, because the Chinese school in London teaches in Cantonese. But since her father is such a quiet person and lets everything just like it should be, I guess Melissa hears more English words from the Mother-Taught-Circle which is May's activity with other English-speaking mothers and their children she does twice weekly than her father. And later, May speaks to her both Cantonese and English since she has to talk with Mark English anyway. This, in my opinion, makes Melissa just more confused. She sometimes called her father "Mummy", when she wants something from him. If she's got enthusiastic about something she simply calls it "Mao mao" or "Gou gou" which is in both Chinese and Cantonese "cat" or "dog". When she showed me her book, she called everyone in the book "mao mao" or "gou gou". Today I noticed the only word which Melissa knows definitely the meaning and can clearly speak out is: "no". "No" means by May always that "Melissa, you cannot, or you should not do this". Like at dinner, Melissa climbed down her chair, came to me and picked up my hand - at this moment, both Mark and May laughed. They certainly knew what she wanted to do. May said: "no, Melissa, let Peimin Jiejie finish her dinner first." And she explained to me that Melissa wanted me to open the door of the fridge for her. It is her usual activity after dinner to pick out the yogurt from the fridge. And, if at all, the fridge may be the most interesting object for her, because there are so many colorful things in it. Melissa, waiting for the end of her mummy's explanation, as she knew everything, picked up my hand again and drug me with her. May said again. "Melissa, no ..." At that moment, we heard the little girl clearly answered "no" with her own rebelled melody. All of us laughed. And I, never could refuse her wish, went with her to the fridge. She picked out her baby yogurt but obviously didn't want to eat. After a while, her mummy said, if you don't want, put it in the fridge. So she came to me again ... for she knew she is not powerful to open the door. But this time, she put the yogurt in and picked out a clove of garlic. This must be a new discovery - she put it into her mouth, while her dad cried: "Oh God, garlic! Melissa, I don't want to kiss you then!"
Sometimes, I see her desire to express herself and her little sadness that she cannot, like the little sadness as she saw me put on my coat, which means I'll leave. Watching her I thought what a great responsibility to bring a little child up, and what a great experience it is for both parents and children. You know we don't remember ourselves (our life experiences) when we were 2 or 3 years old, not at all for the age of some months. Oh, little Melissa, would you remember that you pressed your kiss upon my cheek?