A Day with Edna

Lessons in Love and Living

Edna lived with her husband, Ed, across the street from Danny in the best neighborhood in the world, surrounded by trees filled with squirrels and deer. Edna and Ed didn't have any children, but they had a beautiful little green parakeet that lived in a cage by the window in the kitchen.

Danny lived next door with his father. Danny's mother had died when he was still a baby. Danny had three older brothers, but they all went away to begin their lives. So Danny lived alone with his father.

Once a week, Danny would go to Edna and Ed's house to clean, cut their bushes, and tend to their garden. Ed always sat in the same place in the same chair every day. Ed sat in the chair to the right, and Edna sat in the chair to the left.

When Edna let the little green parakeet out of the cage, it would fly across the room right to Ed's finger. And each time, Ed would always give a big, bright smile.

One day, Ed died, and the parakeet died too. Edna was all alone.

Danny still went to help Edna at her house. One day, Edna said, "Come sit with me, Danny. I want to tell you something today."

Danny sat down in the chair where Ed always used to sit.

"I am old now," said Edna. "I had my chance to live my life the way I wanted, but when I was young, I was always worried about what other people thought and said. Instead of living the life I dreamed of, I lived the way others wanted me to."

Danny didn't know what to say, so he said nothing.

Edna continued, "You may be too young to understand these things, but I want to tell you this. Do what you want in your life. Live the way you want and dream. Don't worry about what others think or say. None of them—none of those people—will be with you for your whole life.

"Look at me," laughed Edna. "I am alone now. All those people are no longer here, and yet I lived my life always so worried about what they thought."

Edna looked out the window. A little squirrel was chewing on a nut. A deer passed by and glanced through the glass. A blue jay landed on the limb of a small green bush. Yellow, green, red, and blue flowers peeked out of the ground. It was springtime.

Edna laughed. "Just live, Danny. Live when you have the chance."

A story by Pemba Umoja