Mama and Layla grew closer and closer as the weeks and months flew by. Mama and her various nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and of course Buddy started taking Layla out for long excursions in the southern Louisiana countryside, and it was always delightful to hear the stories of Layla discovering and seeing the world. Month after month, I witnessed Mama working her magic with Layla, and Layla was blooming like a beautiful flower.
It had been almost a year now in Mama’s house and we were on the eve of Layla’s sixth birthday. Spring was coming fast and March 12 was just around the corner. Mama and her clan were preparing a big celebration and Layla couldn’t wait.
Layla had really matured in many ways this year in Mama’s house.
She was growing tall and wispy like her mom. Her long hair was straw-colored and she wore it in a braided ponytail most of the time. She was turning into the classic tomboy, but you could see and feel a deep elegance and a kind of peace within her.