After an exhausting walk to the end of our street with Camilo in and out of his Flintstones car, we made it to the driveway leading its way to the back of the new café. The green gate was pushed open, creating a welcome invitation for a two year old on an adventure.
Camilo propelled his car forward over the grass sprouts existing between the two concrete paths meant for non-Flintstone vehicles. On the right side of the path, large clay pots line the wall. Many have plants with colorful leaves growing off of them, while a few remain empty, awaiting the repotting that Keo and his wife always engage in. On the left, some storage is seen over the fence of Mee Tao´s house. A few months ago, the ground was lined with trees shooting up into the air, but their removal came after weeks of ongoing electrical fires.
Just past Mee Tao´s fenced in area, the ground opens up and a fern lined jungle is at hand. There are giant trees lining the path, with colorful vines climbing their way up to the top. The bark is covered by leaves bigger than a human face. Small grass pathways present themselves, a refrain from the trees and the overhanging ferns. Flowers sit in pots, hues of periwinkle two inches from the ground. Shades of red and pink flowers on tables hip height. A breath of fresh air in the middle of the city. And nestled up to the front, past the wooden stumps and odd tables, sits the café, but that´s not too interesting right now.
Camilo scoots up in his little car and announces himself to the owner of the extremely grandiose house, the father of the café project that became an idea after years of children watching their parents care for the land so gently and rigorously. ¨Ma lew,¨ (I have already come!) shouts Camilo to the owner dressed in a simple flowy dress with flowers adorning it and flip-flops to combine. She copies Camilo´s message, ¨Camilo ma lew!¨
Even though her husband addresses her as ¨mom¨ around Camilo, she tends to push Camilo off to other hands, preferring to extract the frog tad-poles in her lilly pad pond in proper peace. ¨Keo, u sai?¨ (Where is Keo?) she asks Camilo who is excited at the opportunity for a search, hoping to find him with a long blue hose in his hand. She tells Camilo, ¨Keo pun nam,¨ (Keo is watering plants) and Camilo takes off running while yelling for the woman´s husband.
A voice appears from behind layers of flowers and ferns, ¨Pun nam ton mai.¨ (Watering the tree). Camilo searches him out, but gets distracted by a green watering can sitting next to the tubs. He decides to pick one up as he continues to search. When Keo sneaks his way out of the natural debris, he lets out a humorous grunt at the sight of Camilo with the watering can. He engages Camilo in a bit of conversation, asking if he had already seen Mee Tao while he fills up the jug.
Then Camilo is off, already knowing what to do. At first the can is quite heavy and he can only maneuver it one step at a time. When he reaches the first palm oil tree, he does his best to lift the watering can over the pot. With mommy´s help, he is able to get some water in the pot and lighten his load to continue. Camilo goes around to every pot along the premise, watering until he runs out and returns to Keo and the hose for more. Camilo stops to point out odd pieces: a bucket of broken up egg shells, another with a white mold sitting in water, an old juice box someone carelessly threw into the plants.
When he has finished watering what he can, he follows Keo holding the hose as he sprays not just the roots of trees, but all up the trunks and branches that are wrapped with vines. Camilo randomly grabs onto Keo´s shorts to keep himself from falling over and the man doesn´t mind. He makes conversation, telling Camilo what he is doing and when to move the hose. He speaks to me in English, naming some of the plants and discussing their origins. Each was planted with a purpose and the love put into this yard is revealed with even a single glance of the vast life.
As Keo finishes up his morning watering, typically lasting up to an hour, he lets Camilo know it is finished. I laugh as he tells Camilo ¨pak pon¨ (time to rest) and Camilo seeks to keep the watering going. As we put the hose back in its place, I am thankful for the influence of this man in my son´s life. Camilo has learned to plant seeds, to move dirt, to water plants, and to appreciate the new growth of seeds. He has learned about what roots Lao people.
It takes a special person to constantly engage with my high energy and talkative son who blurs his three languages together as one. We haven´t come across too many characters willing to take him on. Of course, many people love Camilo. Many are elated to see him and Camilo´s friendly character puts a look of fondness in the eyes that see him. But, not too many are willing to engage in confused conversations and allow him to tag along for the day´s tasks. I am thankful for those who do.
