We had about half an hour wait until Sandra’s plane came in. I ordered a coffee for myself and a small milk shake for Jason, who really would have liked a coffee but I explained that coffee wasn’t good for little boys and I was pleased to see that he didn’t make a fuss. He finished his milkshake quickly and was just getting up from the table and I said “You need to ask Mummy first before you leave the table sweetheart”
Rather bashfully Joe said “Mummy can get down from the table and go upstairs and watch the planes come in?”
“Yes but you must promise Mummy that you will just stay by the window and not go anywhere else, I don’t want my little boy getting lost.” Jason eagerly promised and I finished the coffee at my leisure, marveling how naturally and easily Jason accepted my authority. Perhaps this is what he had really been waiting for.
I walked up stairs and found Jason at the window staring out at the planes. ” Come on Sweetheart its time to go down and meet Aunty Sandra she will be coming through the doors any moment.” I took his hand and we walked back down stairs together.

When Sandra came to greet us she initially ignored Jason and gave me a big hug. After asking Sandra how her flight was, I turned to Jason “Aren’t you gong to say hello to Aunty Sandra?”
Joe blushed and in a timid voice said “Hello Aunty Sandra”
Sandra gave him a big warm smile “Hello Jason” and with an inspired guess said, “Have you been watching the big planes come in?” Jason nodded shyly.
“Would you like to see the big plane that I came in?” With out waiting for an answer she took Jason by the hand and said” If you come over to the window I will show it to you. Joe, totally of guard, found himself hand in hand trotting along side Sandra to one of the windows at the far end of the downstairs floor. When they got to the window Sandra said “I came in the big blue one can you tell Aunty Sandra which is the blue one?” Jason quickly looked around to see if any body had been in earshot and pointed to the aeroplane two away from the window. Aunty Sandra beamed at him. “My you’re a clever little boy aren’t you?” Jason hung his head embarrassed. I laughed and said to Sandra “I think Jason is a bit overwhelmed, he is quite a shy little boy.”Sandra glanced down at him and said
“He is so cute Wendy! I’m sure Jason and I are going to be good friends. Do you think he would like to help push the luggage trolley out to the car?”
Joe eager to play a grown up role at last said, “I can do it all by myself!”
Sandra looked at him doubtful, and I came to the rescue “How about you push sweetheart, but I will keep a hand on the handle we don’t want to bang into anyone do we? You can still show Aunty Sandra how big and strong you are. ”
Sandra still looking doubtful, said “The bags are pretty heavy Wendy.”
Jason by this time was almost jumping out of his skin with eagerness to prove to Aunty Sandra that he really was a big strong boy. “I can do it, I can do it,” said Jason excitedly, and so it was that Jason found himself proudly pushing the trolley through the terminal with me having a steady hand on the handle. When we got to the car he moved around to the front of the trolley ready to lift the bags into the car still determined to show Aunty Sandra how grown up he really was. I immediately said “We will do these sweetheart, they are much to heavy for a little boy, that’s a grown ups job.” Joe’s frustration finally got the better of him, and he said loudly enough for a grandmotherly lady near by give me a sympathetic smile “But I can do it, I can be a grown up to!”
“Well why don’t you show Mummy and Aunty Sandra what a big boy you are and push the trolley all by yourself over there where the other ones are parked” I said pointing to a group of trolleys parked in a row about thirty yards away. “Do you think you’re big enough to do that for Mummy or shall I ask Aunty Sandra to do it.”Joe quickly said that he could do it, and left feeling slightly frustrated that his every attempt to show how grown up he was somehow left him feeling very much the little boy.