The Kiss

Oh, I know you are waiting for my commentary on Gustav Klimt’s influential work. But, sorry, folks, this is not about that piece of art. It is about childhood innocence gone awry.

It was a lovely, early summer morning, just after a torrential rainstorm. The clouds had quickly parted and the sky was an azure wonder. A few hours earlier we worried about a cancellation.  With the sun shining brightly and an excited child in tow, my sister-in-law and I made our way to my daughter’s ‘best friend’s’ birthday party picnic.

The sunshine peeked through the branches of the tree and we found the spot where the picnic was happening. We had to circle around a closed off area of the park to get to the festivities. As we approached, the birthday girl came running up to my daughter. They gave each other an embrace that signified years of distance. In fact they had only seen each other the afternoon before. But that’s how kids are – the purity of friendship isn’t tainted. It was a magical day with the sun streaming at angles and early spring pollen pulsed through the breeze.

On the way to the party my daughter inquired if a friend, who happened to be a boy, would be there. I said that I was pretty certain he would be as he was a class favorite. My daughter thought he was the ‘funniest’. I also thought he was a sweet, creative boy – he’d won me over with his sensitivity and whimsy – not to mention his obsession with pirates!

Moments after our arrival, said boy arrived. Enormous hugs ensued, games were played, food was eaten, birthday songs were sung, and cake was eaten. It was now time to leave. My sister-in-law and I informed my daughter that departure was on the horizon. However we couldn’t go before we said good-bye to her best friend. Said boy was about to leave as well but was also waiting to say goodbye. 

The birthday girl had disappeared to deposit an intruder turtle in a nearby stream. As she came around the bend, she saw said boy, ran up to him and planted an enormous kiss on his lips. The boy, his father, my sister-in-law and I were in shock by this mature display of affection. The father turned around to us to say, ‘Do I need to start chaperoning already!?’  The birthday girl walked away with a big Cheshire smile on her face. That is how it began and ended, friends. An innocent kiss creating confusion for all.