A Boy Named Lakhan: Part Three
Four mornings a week, my alarm sounds at 5:30. The compound is dark, except where light from a high-mounted security bulb casts its circle on the patio stones. I leave for the children's center by 8:15, with the straps of my backpack over both shoulders and the straps of two purses of different sizes over those straps and across one shoulder. Together, all three bags carry the items I'll need that morning for work with Lakhan. The smallest purse has my essentials of glasses, iPhone, and apartment key lanyard. The larger purse is for essentials for Lakhan. It has two small-size paper diapers, a three-inch round tin with treats, his purple plastic water bottle, his size 7 boots,* and two pairs of clean socks—one to wear and one that I stuff into the heel of each boot to keep both securely on his feet.
By 8:15, I unlock the gate to go to inside the center, a ten-minute walk during which I keep to the side of the road, as motorbikes and cars zoom by. The children walking to the center at the same time as I am are apt to join me for a short distance—until in kids' conversations and playfulness they move ahead, increasing their distance.
The information below was taken from my daily children’s center notes about Lakhan.
Sat. 12/09
vocalizes several sounds, after only one for days
at the tall mirror, sticks out his tongue for the first time, repeats. I stick out mine that he sees in the mirror and turns to look at my mouth and tongue
Tues. 12/12
uses his fist first time to knock on the washroom door
Sun. 12/31
In the small room, I put him on his back on the single bed and toss both legs up. Surprising me, his legs lower, hold there, then drop. I repeat. This time his legs stay up. He begins swinging them open and closed kicking. He's smiling. He vocalizes "ah" then "a"
Lakhan on the bed, lying face up. I pick him up by his heels, hold them high, then move them toward his head, and he's doing a backwards somersault. Then pull him into position again and repeat. Each time he breaks out in a smile
Mon. 01/01
On the bed I toss his legs up and repeat, putting my hands on his feet in the air. Eventually he puts his hands on his feet holding them. I keep smiling, repeating "Good Lakhan." I say that a lot
I move his legs up and down, faster and faster. He grins and vocalizes
He "bares his teeth" as if trying to smile. His eyes also scrunch up. He's gradually developing a "Lakhan personality"
Throughout the morning he walks forward, then backward, one of his latest accomplishments he keeps repeating
At lunch, I feed him. Then I put his hand under my hand holding the spoon then put food on the spoon, and guide it toward his mouth. He catches on and puts it in his mouth
Tues. 01/02 6. Lakhan goes up to Patrick (staff) who understands and puts his hands out palms up. Lakhan slaps them. They do this repeatedly, slapping each other's hands
Thurs. 01/04
I put him on the bed on his back and blow on his stomach. He grins and vocalizes. I repeat his sound each time he makes one
There is a large plastic box on the bed. I put him on his knees and he begins slapping it. He takes my hand and pushes it toward the box repeatedly to make my hand slap the box. He wants me to keep slapping the box and I do
I take him to the bottom of the six steps to the entrance, and we begin climbing. On my hands and knees behind him, I move his hands up and then his knees. After other activities, we return twice more to practice climbing the steps
We return to the small room. I close the door and walk Lakhan to the far wall. I move to the wall opposite him and motion him to come on his own. We do this repeatedly
My realization is, "Where there is a difference between the experience one brings to a volunteer opportunity, and what the opportunity requires, it may be that one's simply being present, and open to inspiration in the moment, is the key to success."
* The site of Avatar Meher Baba's Tomb-Shrine (Samadhi) and of world pilgrimages as well as the Avatar’s early primary residence and ashram, and the headquarters of His activities until 1944; now overseen by the Meherabad Trust.