What Thomas Means

Rosa looks at Mia. Her eyes are wet. She is not angry. 'Did you find this?' Rosa asks. Her voice is soft. Mia says yes. She holds her muddy hands. She waits.

Rosa picks up the ring. She looks at it for a long time. 'Thomas,' she says. She is very quiet. Rosa looks at Mia. 'Thomas was my husband. He was your grandfather. He died many years ago. You did not know him.'

Her eyes are wet. Rosa puts the ring on her finger. She takes Mia's hand. Her hand is warm. Mia's hand is muddy. Rosa does not care.

Rosa says: 'You gave him back to me. A little.' Mia does not understand all the words. But she understands enough.

That night, Rosa shows Mia a photo. It is old. It is a man. He is kind. He smiles. Mia looks at the photo for a long time. She feels she knows him now. She feels something warm and quiet in her heart.