White Jewel

         “Today we are going to start a new project,” Mrs. Cordell said. “We will be learning about the life cycle of monarch butterflies.” Oh goodie! I thought to myself. I love bugs. This is going to be awesome! “For homework tonight,” she continued. “I want you to see if you can find some milkweed with monarch butterfly eggs. Milkweed is a plant that these beautiful orange and black butterflies lay their eggs in. They lay them underneath the leaves to protect them from predators. Then, when the eggs hatch, the caterpillars can eat the leaves…”
         I didn’t really pay attention after that. First graders don’t have a very long attention span anyway. I started to think about where I would find this milkweed stuff. What does it even look like? I wondered. I looked at the picture my teacher had placed on the board. Ahh..okay. That’s what it is. I locked that fuzzy-looking, sea-weed green plant into my memory. I was determined to find it.
         The day seemed to drag on after that. Then finally, just when I thought my hair would turn gray and my teeth start to rot from old age, the bell finally rang. I rushed out of the classroom to grab my backpack from the hall, trying not to bump into anyone. Then I put my chair on my desk and quickly lined up at the door to the glorious outside world that would provide me my treasure, my milkweed.
         As I walked home that day, I looked at every green plant I passed by, slowing my steps so that I could carefully search for butterfly eggs; a snail passed by. I’m sure he was rolling his eyes. I didn’t want to miss any milkweed. I turned down Midland Drive, anxiously searching. I came to the blue house on the left, 8475 Midland Drive, without seeing a lick of milkweed. Drat!
         “Momma!” I called as I clambered through the door, struggling to take off my jacket before my backpack. “I need to find some milkweed! That’s where monarch butterflies lay their eggs and I have to find some for school. Where can I find some??”
         Momma told me she knew of a good place, but that we would have to wait until after dinner. She said she’d take me then, just me. I happily agreed and went to my littlest sister’s room to play Barbies. Dinner came and went. I scarfed down my meatloaf, hardly tasting it. I loved that stuff, but I had some important business to attend to. Momma and I jumped in the car. My little sister wanted to know where we were going, but I told her she couldn’t come. Momma was taking me somewhere, just us two, and she couldn’t come this time. I saw her still pouting as we pulled out of the garage, the door slowly closing. Just me and Momma! I thought. Off on an adventure. Whoohoo! I chattered the whole way, about how I’d almost beat the boys in the mile last week, and how Mrs. Cordell got kicked by her horse. Mom listened intently, with a peaceful smile gently spread across her thin lips, and a twinkle of pride in her eye that only exists in the eye of a parent.
         She finally pulled off the road and parked along the canal. I opened my door and, forgetting to unbuckle myself, tried charging out into the great wilderness. After wrestling with the blasted clasp, I was free, and ran to the fist plant I could find. There was milkweed everywhere! I ran from one plant to another, carefully looking for butterfly eggs. My hands became sticky from the white residue the leaves left on my narrow little fingers as I lifted them up, one at a time, looking under each and every leaf. No wonder it’s called Milkweed, I thought. Still no eggs. I wasn’t discouraged. There was still so much to be explored. I ventured near the far side of the canal, and eased myself down to the water. “Hey Mom!” I called. “I think I saw a fish!” There was that attention-span, about as long as a fly’s nose. I stared at the water for about 30 seconds, then spotted a milkweed plant across the water and scurried up the side of the canal, resuming my original search again.
         Soon, I was in a jungle, and I was a lost princess in search of a small, round, white jewel. I had to find it before the bad guys did or I could never see my family again. I saw someone else walking just ahead. She was looking for the white jewel too. We searched together in peaceful, yet urgent silence. Our finding this precious stone was of the utmost importance.
         It seemed as though no time had passed when Momma said “It’s getting dark, sweetie. We’d better get going.” I looked under one last leave, and then trotted away beside her. I grabbed her hand and we briskly walked back to the car, me in my dirt-stained tennis shoes, Momma in her Danskin clogs. She gently kissed my rosy cheek, as I chattered away again, pushing my wispy blond hair out of my eyes. Momma smiled and listened. We got into the car and drove home, a feeling of delight enveloping me as if it were a giant hug. As the local KTSY radio station played in the background, we continued to talk, just chatting about nothing and everything. As we pulled into the driveway, I secretly wished we could keep driving.
         I never did find any milkweed, but I found something even better. Spending time with Momma was the most precious treasure I could ask for. Just me and Momma, making a memory that would last forever in both our minds. A memory as rare and special as a white jewel.