“Playmate, Come Out and Play With Me.”
There’s a catchy little tune a floatin’ through the air
You hear it here and there
They sing it every where
How it started, where it started
Seems nobody knows
But what’s the difference where it came from
Here’s the way it goes.
Oh playmate, come out and play with me
And bring your dollies three
Climb up my apple tree
Look down my rain barrel
Slide down my cellar door
And we’ll be jolly friends forever more.
It was a rainy day
She couldn’t come out to play
With tearful eyes and tender sighs
I could hear her say.
I’m sorry playmate, I cannot play with you
My dollies have the flu
Boo-hoo, hoo-hoo, hoo-hoo
Can’t climb your rain barrel
Can’t slide down your cellar door
But we’ll be jolly friends forever more.
“Is this some sort of personality test?” I asked.
“Not really.”
“Is it an IQ test?” I said.
“For you? Probably,” she said with a grin.
“OK. What gives?” I asked.
“You’re supposed to write about this topic. Can you do it?”
“I suppose but you go first,” I said.
“Hmm? The hardest truth I learned about myself?” Ophelia mused, “I suppose that is the secret that I am a part of you that few know about.”
“What’s so difficult about that?” I said.
“Well, I get lonely,” Ophelia said.
“Lonely? What do you mean? We’re always together.”
“OK. I get bored then,” she said, smiling again.
“That wasn’t kind,” I said and scowled.
“But it is true and it is hard to realize I’m trapped inside your head. … For eternity,” Ophelia said.
“Hmm? Putting it that way. Yeah that would be a difficult thing to learn about yourself. Trapped.”
“Your turn,” She said.
“Sister. I hate these kind of games,” I said.
“It’s not a game. It’s a challenge,” She said.
“OK. The hardest thing I learned about myself. I suppose was when I lost you,” I said.
“You can’t lose me. I’m part of you.”
“I lost you when I lost my mind,” I said.
She nodded.
“I see what you mean. Why was that the hardest?” she asked.
“Because I missed you. I was lonely,” I said.
“You can’t choose that word. Lonely is what I chose. You would’ve been bored if you were with me. Promise. Count your blessings.”
“You don’t know what it was like. All alone. Abandoned.”
“Yeah. I guess I never realized I was important enough to cause you pain.”
“You are.”
“Why?”
“I had no one to play with me.”
“Oh,” and then she was quiet for a long time.
A tear rolled from my eye. Not a sad tear. A happy one.
We both smiled at each other.
Then she asked:
“Can you come out and play — now?”
Lyrics
- 1. I’m trying to be like Jesus; I’m following in his ways. I’m trying to love as he did, in all that I do and say. At times I am tempted to make a wrong choice, But I try to listen as the still small voice whispers,
[Chorus]
“Love one another as Jesus loves you.
Try to show kindness in all that you do.
Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought,
For these are the things Jesus taught.”
2. I’m trying to love my neighbor;
I’m learning to serve my friends.
I watch for the day of gladness when Jesus will come again.
I try to remember the lessons he taught.
Then the Holy Spirit enters into my thoughts, saying:
“Love one another as Jesus loves you.
Try to show kindness in all that you do.
Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought,
For these are the things Jesus taught.”
