A Touch Of Happiness. Juan Moisés De La Serna

like those people who because of lack of hygiene they hide their own smell behind a litre of cologne.

      -Besides, they say it’s an aphrodisiac, I mean personal smell, I pointed out.

      -Yes, I have also heard about that, but they say that men are rather visual, that’s why I always wear clothes of one size less than mine.

      We both laughed a lot with that statement, the truth is that I didn’t know the woman, perhaps I had judged her wrongly or maybe too easily.

      Now that I knew her a little better, she seemed to be a beautiful person, and of course anybody could have a bad day even her, that would explain the clashes we have had in the past, nothing to remember anymore.

      I said farewell with a smile and after a moment of being alone I heard on the public address system that I was needed in customer service. That shocked me, because when a cashier was needed they usually send a girl to give the errand to avoid causing the scandal of using the speakers.

      When I arrived, the manager with a big smile told me,

      -See, some of us have been talking and we believe that you will be the emplo-yee of the week.

      - In all my years here I have never been employee of the week - I said surpri-sed.

      -Well, you are today, he replied winking at me.

      -But that means …

      -Yes, indeed, collect your things, because you free for the rest of the day.

      It seemed like a dream come true, I had always envied the luck of some people getting off thanks to being the employee of the week, but it had never really touched me until this moment.

      I felt lucky, as if I had been touched by providence, capable of doing anything, of making my dreams and desires come true.

      I left after hugging my colleagues and even a customer who crossed my path and gave everyone a nice smile. I went to a children’s goods store, because I wanted my happiness to be shared with those that are mine, and although I didn’t have much money I wanted to surprise my son so I went to buy him a toy.

      Before entering the store, I saw a person selling lottery coupons. I had always been suspicious of those games that take away you salary and also your illu-sions with them, because years and years pass by without winning, neither you nor any family member, despite the gossip that says that they have heard of one person or the other who won but nobody ever knows the person directly.

      I bought a number and I left the change to the seller, who delighted me with a poem as a thank you, the poem despite being short was beautiful and so I let him know.

      After I went into the store and looking around a lot I decided on a ruben cube, although I knew that my son was more of wrestling toys, it seemed a good en-tertainment that would help you focus on difficult tasks.

      Well, to tell the truth, I did not expect him to ever solve it, because when I was younger I tried several times and never succeeded.

      I asked the clerk to wrap it for me as a gift and once I paid I went home exci-ted. There was my mother sitting on a chair watching TV and knitting a scarf, even though we did not need it, because we already had a collection, but she liked to weave it and it kept her busy.

      After greeting her, I went to my son’s room, where he spent the afternoons. Al-though there was no one to watch him, he knew that I would ask him about his homework in the evening before dinner and I would check if he had done them well. For that reason he divided his time as he wanted into studying and rest time, if he liked he could do his homework first and then spend the rest of the afternoon playing.

      When I arrived he was colouring a notebook, seeing me enter he was surprised and looked at a clock in case time had gone without realising and he said,

      -Mom, what are you doing here at this time? Are you okay?

      -I’m doing great, I’ve only come to see you earlier, to know how you were- I replied with a smile.

      - I’m fine, thanks, but you have to go unless they might complain at work, he said hurriedly.

      That filled me with pride, knowing that I had such a responsible son.

      -Look today I have no more work to do, I have been granted the afternoon off, so if you want we can go to the park for some time.

      -I still have homework, he said with a sad face.

      -Don’t worry, I’ll help you to finish it later if you come with me.

      He quickly released the coloured pencil and with a big smile he threw his arms around my neck and said,

      -I love you mom.

      This made me feel emotional again, the truth is that everything that a mother could wish was this, seeing my son happy and he telling me these beautiful things.

      -Look, I said. Since you have been well behaved , I brought you something.

      -What is it? He asked excitedly.

      -Open the wrapper and you’ll see I said as I gave him the gift.

      He did so quickly and found a cube of six faces, each one of a different colour and looking at all its sides he asked,

      - And what is this for?

      This put me in a difficult place, because although I had tried to solve it, I did not know what the instructions were or how it was solved, so if he asked me to do a demonstration I could not do it.

      -Well …, this … -I said taking my time to find the right words-. Each side con-sists of of the cube having all the cells of the same colour.

      My son looked at the sides again and after a moment he said,

      -Mom, it has them already, look all the yellow cells are here and on this other side the red ones.

      -Yes, right I said, laughing at the occurrence of my son. Wait a minute.

      Picking up the cube, I turned the pieces around, I gave it back to him and said,

      - Now you have to reorganise it.

      He took it between his small hands trying to figure out how those pieces mo-ved and he realised he could only make horizontal or vertical movements, of a row or column. After trying several times and before his desperation I said,

      -You can move several columns or rows at a time, that will make the work easier

      He looked at me with a face of not being too convinced and started spinning the chips again. I knew that it was going take a good part of his afternoon, so I said,

      -Well, leave that aside because we have to go, I’ll ask grandma if she wants to go down too.

      I went towards the living room and before I said anything to my mother, my son called me and said,

      -Mom, mom, look

      I was surprised, because I left him only a few seconds ago , I turned around and to my surprise I saw in his hands the ordered cube and a big smile. I took it to look at every side and after checking that all the colours were well placed, I said,

      -Very well done, son. -And I kissed him on the cheek as a reward-. Now take the jacket so you don’t catch a cold.

      -Are you going out? My mother asked me, listening to what I had told her grandson.

      -Yes, let’s go to the park for a while, they gave me the afternoon off.

      - What have you done this time?

      -Nothing mom, just that I’m the employee of the week.

      -Really? She asked, getting up and opening her arms to give me a hug-. I’m so proud of you, she said putting her arms around me.

      I had a strange feeling, we always fought so much and now it seemed she had a big heart, I smiled at her and asked,

      - Do you want to go downstairs?