Love your brother!

1-19-11

Dearest Winkie,


It is confirmed. You are a letter writer. And believe it to be the best mode of communication. Especially when talking doesn't work. Or complaining. Or begging. Or anything. When your brother turns a deaf ear to all your spoken pleas, you write to him. And put it in his mailbox. Never mind that he doesn't read a single string of words yet. Never mind that even when I read it to him, he smiled most understandingly, as if he 'got' what I was saying, and went right back to his 'troubling' ways! None of that matters, because all you wanted to do was write and say it and get it out of your system.

I still remember that somber look on your face when you very purposefully strode over to me, to ask if you could tear a page out of my little lined notebook. You wanted to write a letter, you said. I nodded absently, because me and your father were busy brainstorming on how we were going to transform the toy-room into a boys' haven. I know now which pen you used, by the colour and mark of the ink. As an aside, let me tell you, that this pen gives you a very good hand. Your handwriting was unbelievable to me when I first saw the letter. Beautiful!

Anyways, 10 minutes later, you were back in the room, striding even more purposefully now, to his little mailbox. He was oblivious to all the goings on of course, as was your father. But somehow, in the middle of all that idea-throwing, I managed to catch the look on your face. Firmly set jaw, flashing eyes, and this determined look on your face....as if saying, There, that does it! You also gave me a curt nod as our eyes briefly met. And then you were gone.

Today, when some semblance of order is coming back into the room, my eyes happened to fall on Thambi's mailbox, and I suddenly remembered what was tucked inside it. Your father was there too, and we excitedly opened it, waiting to see what special words your mind had concocted. And we were not disappointed! I've already talked about the beautiful hand, so we'll skip that. But do you know how to spell the word 'thorough'? For that is what you are. One look at the neatly inscribed date on top, is enough to rest my case. Learn the meaning of this word, for you have already learnt what it is to be thorough. :)

Emphatic. That's another word buddy. How you emphatically stress on the 'If you stop troubling..' and the 'I will give you a surprise...' bit. Over and over again in a loop, such that he will get the message. Loud and clear. No scope of confusions. :).

Efficient. I love how you have used one sentence to convey 2 very separate things. You may have forgotten a comma there, or it may be a deliberate ruse to convey the double meaning. Love, your brother...you say, in a typical way to end a letter. And Love your brother, you tell him, keeping in mind the tone of authoritative request in the rest of your letter. Its brilliant how you hit two birds with one stone. No...no....we are not  actually killing any birds here, love. Its a saying. Just saying. :)

Cognizance. Your singing off as Anna was a masterstroke. Especially after using the word 'brother' just before it. Its like you remembered how I have always stressed your importance in the family to Thambi, as his Anna. How I have always insisted that he call you that. By signing off thus, you are re-iterarting to him that you are his older brother, and he better believe it! And like an Anna, you will care for him and love him in all the ways that he should be loved and cared for. That respect matters. That names, while beautiful, cannot be half as charming as the relationship that precedes it. Somehow, you get that and I dig that about you. Now let us hope that Thambi shows that same cognizance. :)

Finally, let me tell you that what I liked most about your letter is that you wrote a letter. I love that you love tearing paper out of my precious notebook, and dishing out my favoritest pen out of the cup, to string together the words of your intent. I love that you are using the mailbox gifted to us long back, that I am still not using with you. I love that I get to keep and store your precious letter in a number of ways, in a keepsake box, through the soft copy picture here and through my own letter, right back at ya!

Love your mother,

Amma.

P.S. - Please remind me to get you your own stationery! Stat!