Grinning toothlessly, Umberto lisped, “Thumbertho.”
Once, while on a family picnic at the park, Umberto’s mother laid out plates of delicious food on blankets beneath a shade tree, and everyone bowed in prayer while his dad gave thanks for the meal. Sadly, an old man in ragged clothes, his beard streaked with tobacco stains, looked on from a nearby bench.
The Unsilio family ignored him--all except Umberto. Man and boy could not take their eyes off each other. Then, before anyone could grab him, the boy waddled over to the man and sat beside him. “Well, little fella, what’s your name?” the man asked.
Grinning toothlessly, Umberto lisped, “Thumbertho.” Smiling, the old man said he really liked that name. Then, the two began making funny faces at each other, which brought forth much laughter from Umberto. For the rest of the family, the Sunday afternoon picnic’s happy atmosphere faded.
The boy’s parents were stunned--not only because their defenseless son was enjoying the company of a stranger but also because boy and man seemed to bond with one another. The man’s eyes moistened as the child tugged at his whiskers. Gently, he patted Umberto’s back, gave him a kiss, and walked toward Mrs. Unsilio.
"Ma’am,” the old man said, “this is such a beautiful little boy. Thank you for allowing me to play with him for a few moments.” When he tried to hand Umberto over to his mother, the child held tightly to the old man and began crying. Alone and unloved, the old man sighed deeply as he experienced the precious moment. After wiping tears from his eyes, the lonely old man released Umberto, waved goodbye and plodded slowly back to the bench.
