Little Shea's Backyard Adventures (3)

"Shhh...don't let your mom see me!" Ming Ming put his finger to his lips, and hissed.

Shea stepped in front of Ming Ming, and called back to his mom, "Mommy! I'll come in soon!"

Ming Ming was so tiny Shea's mom would not have noticed him anyway. She closed the door, and left Shea in the backyard.

"You don't want Mommy to see you?" asked Shea curiously.

"Grown-ups are funny. They don't believe in fairies!" Ming Ming explained.

"All right! You want to come in with me?" Shea invited Ming Ming. He did not want to leave Ming Ming alone in the yard. He might be hungry.

"No, I'll be all right. You go ahead! I'll be here when you come out to play tomorrow!" promised Ming Ming.

Shea was still a little worried about Ming Ming, "Are you sure? What are you going to eat? Where are you going to sleep?"

Ming Ming laughed, "Remember! I'm a backyard fairy. I live in the backyard! I also don't get hungry like you!"

Shea still looked a little worried. Ming Ming gave Shea's foot a push, and said, "Go on! See you tomorrow!"

Finally, Shea turned to go into the house. Suddenly, he remembered something, and turned back to Ming Ming, "Beware of the big black cat! He comes into our yard sometimes, and chase the squirrels!"

Ming Ming nodded his head, and waved Shea on.

It was time for Shea to go to bed. Shea's dad helped him brush his teeth. Then Shea sat on his daddy's lap in the rocking chair, while dad read him his bedtime stories. Dad read him a story about Tom Thumb.
"Is Tom Thumb a fairy, Daddy? He's tiny!" Shea asked.

"I don't think he was a fairy! Why? What do you know about fairies?" Daddy was curious to know how Shea knew about fairies.

"Nothing!" Shea remembered how Ming Ming did not want Mommy to know about him.

Daddy said a prayer with Shea, and lay him down on his bed. That night, Shea dreamt about sailing a ship on the sea with Ming Ming, going to faraway places where strange people lived. When he woke up, he could not wait to go out in the backyard to see if Ming Ming was still there, or if it was all just a dream.

While he was eating breakfast, he kept craning his neck to look out the window, to see if he could spot Ming Ming. The window by the dining table looked into the backyard. He could see his playground set, the swing, and his sand box, but he did not see Ming Ming. Of course, Ming Ming was so tiny! It would be hard to see him from the window!

Suddenly, he saw a squirrel running on the fence. On the back of the squirrel sat something! Shea was sure it was Ming Ming! He got all excited, and half rose from his chair. Mommy saw it, and asked Shea if anything was the matter. Shea sat back down, and tried to contain his excitement. His eyes followed the squirrel, as it ran across one of the cable lines. Ming Ming was holding on to the neck of the squirrel, and seemed to be having fun.

Shea gobbled down the rest of his breakfast! Mommy was surprised he finished his food so fast. He used to take a long time to finish his meals! Shea got down from his chair, and could hardly wait while his mom helped him wash his hands and face. He was halfway to the door, when he remembered to turn around and asked, "Mom! May I go play in the backyard?"
Mom was surprised Shea would want to go outside so soon after his breakfast. He usually played with his cars in the living room, while watching his favorite cartoon on TV. However, Mom was happy he wanted to go outdoors. The weather was fine, and the yard was drying up from the rain too.

"Go ahead!" Mom said.

Shea raced to let himself out, and looked around for Ming Ming eagerly.