Claudia : Gloriously Claudia

CHAPTER ONE

Yuichi was looking out of the kitchen window for some time. He glanced, somewhat guiltily, in my direction and in his baby-talk English, he said, "That your landlady down there."

"Oh, yes," I replied promptly, "That's Claudia."

As if the words flowed from deep within his heart, he slowly articulated the name, "Gloria."

"Oh no," I corrected him, "her name is Claudia."

Unlike all other words that his mouth struggles to pronounce, her name flowed from his lips as if they were springing forth from his heart, "Claudia."

"That's right! . . . Claudia . . . Her name is Claudia."

The teachable child was fully present. Yuichi continued to practice his new word, "Claudia . . . "

He practiced his new word very slowly and very aptly, "Claudia."

"That's right," I reassured my pupil.

"Claudia. How appropriately you misunderstand me."

I continued, "Glorious Claudia."