Four-and-a-half-year-old Avi has just turned my husband’s regular white singlet into a colourful artistic object of desire. From (almost) the middle of the singlet grins Avi’s version of Buzz Lightyear. The boy’s eyes twinkle as he admires his art.
Just a day before, he’d been proudly strutting around in his Buzz Lightyear underwear when his heart sank at the thought of his father not having something similar to wear. That’s when we spoke about it. Avi suggested we could buy some Buzz Lightyear clothes for his dad. When I suggested they were only available for children, he couldn’t believe it. “You mean there’s no superhero underwear for adults?” He was aghast. Then, deep in thought, he added: “Maybe we can make some for Papa?”
I love it when Avi talks about making something for someone. It’s one of those childhood things that has been engrained in me: I always remember being told that while it’s easy to buy something from a shop, only someone who loves you dearly will spend time actually making something for you. I’ve grown up on that philosophy and I treasure the cards that my parents, cousins and friends made for me. Undoubtedly, making Buzz Lightyear underwear for Papa was a grand idea.
The next day, as soon as he returned from school, Avi said: “Remember, we have to make something special for Papa today!” He brought his pencils and
fabric colour pens and settled at his kiddies’ worktable. Then: “Oh. But I don’t know how to make Buzz Lightyear.” His hands cradled his head and his lower lip curled outwards as he took a moment to tackle the pressing issue. A ten-second pause followed. “Ah!” said Avi. “I have a great idea. I’ll draw Buzz the way he is on the Toy Story DVD!” The smile was back; the enthusiasm had never ebbed.
But a fresh problem arose. “This underwear will only fit a very small Buzz Lightyear,” said Avi, keenly observing Buzz on the DVD cover while twiddling his pencil.
“How about drawing him on a singlet instead?” I suggested. The idea seemed to make sense. “Yeah! I can wear Batman and Papa can wear Buzz!”
Once we’d found a singlet, it didn’t take long to complete the “artwork”. I agreed to help with Buzz’s hands and legs. Looking at my bit, Avi said, “If you practise, you’ll be able to make Buzz really well.” As for his bit, he said, “Oh! This Buzz looks a little different … but it’s still really cool, isn’t it?”
Papa was delighted with the gift that he was given as soon as he walked in the door. The next morning, son wore his Buzz underwear to school and father wore his Buzz singlet under his stiff blue shirt to work.
I’m sure the moment has brought both of them an enormous amount of joy – as Buzz himself might say: “To infinity… and beyond!”
