The Lone Ranger

He is "Student of the Week" in his classroom. As his pencil marks the page in straight, steady lines, head bent carefully over his work, he fills in his Favorites. I watch as the blank beside TV Show is completed "The Lone Ranger." His dark expressive eyes search for mine.
"Do you remember...?" he begins. I know what he will say.
"...when I used to spend the night at Grammy and Poppy's and Grammy would make us bacon and eggs for breakfast and Poppy and I would watch the Lone Ranger in the morning?" I am silent. Those days seem a lifetime ago.
His chin quivers ever so slightly as he speaks. That emotion would almost be hidden from me if I were not examining his sweet face. He is watching for MY response.
Keep it together, I whisper inside, He needs you to be strong.
"Oh, son, what wonderful memories; such happy times to be thankful for!"
We fall silent. Just the two of us, sitting at the table, with the morning sun streaming through the window. Each lost in thought.
In his world, there's much meaning behind just those three simple words written out for his classmates to read. It's more than just black and white images across the screen. More than a horse named Silver. It's Security. Happiness. Love.