I Don’t Have Mama, Can I Spend A Day With You, Ma’am? —Begged the little Girl to the Female CEO…

An Unexpected Meeting in the Snow

The snow was falling in soft lazy flakes, coating the park bench where Victoria Sterling sat during her lunch break. At 35, she was the youngest CEO in her company’s history.

She had taken the helm of Sterling Media Group three years ago after her father’s retirement. She wore an elegant, cream-colored coat, perfectly tailored with a camel-colored scarf wrapped around her neck.

Her blonde hair was styled in soft waves, and her makeup was flawless despite the cold. She was checking her phone, responding to the endless stream of emails that never seemed to stop.

Then she heard a small voice: “Excuse me, ma’am.” Victoria looked up to find a little girl standing in front of her, maybe four or five years old.

She had light blonde hair pulled into a messy ponytail and wore a brown hooded coat that looked slightly too large. In her small hand, she clutched a worn teddy bear.

“Yes,” Victoria said, softening her tone automatically. Something about the child’s solemn expression touched her.

“Are you sad?” the little girl asked. Victoria blinked, taken aback.

“What makes you think I’m sad?” “You look like my daddy does sometimes when he thinks I’m not watching, like you’re carrying something heavy”.

The little girl tilted her head. “Are you lonely?” Victoria felt something catch in her throat.

How had this child seen through her so easily? “Sometimes,” she admitted. “Are you here with your parents?”.

“Just my daddy. He’s over there.” The girl pointed to a man on a nearby bench talking on his phone.

He looked stressed, running his free hand through his dark hair. “He’s always on the phone for work. He says it’s important”.

“I understand that,” Victoria said quietly. She understood it all too well.

“My name is Sophie,” the little girl said. She held up her teddy bear. “This is Mr. Bear. What’s your name?”.

“Victoria.” Sophie studied her with serious eyes.

Then, in a small voice that nearly broke Victoria’s heart, she said, “I don’t have a mama. She’s in heaven”.

“Daddy says she’s watching over me, but sometimes I really wish I could see her. I want to talk to her and have someone to do girl things with, you know”.

Victoria’s chest tightened. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. That must be very hard”.

“Daddy tries, he really does. But he’s always working and he doesn’t know how to do braids and sometimes I just want…” Sophie trailed off.

Then she looked up at Victoria with hopeful eyes. “Ma’am, can I spend a day with you? Just one day?”.

“You could be my mama for a day. We could do girl things. I promise I’ll be good”.

Victoria felt tears prick her eyes. “Sophie, I…” “Please,” Sophie’s voice was so small, so hopeful.

“Just one day. Daddy’s always busy and I don’t have anyone to do mama things with”.

“We could get ice cream or look at pretty things. Or you could teach me stuff that mamas teach their little girls. Please”.

Victoria looked at this small child at the loneliness in her eyes that mirrored Victoria’s own. She felt something shift in her chest.

She glanced over at the man on the bench, still absorbed in his phone call, clearly stressed and overwhelmed. “Let me talk to your daddy first, okay?”.

“We need to make sure he says it’s all right.” Sophie’s face lit up like Christmas morning.

“Really? You’ll ask him?” “I’ll ask him”.

Sophie grabbed Victoria’s hand and pulled her toward the man on the bench. As they got closer, Victoria could hear his side of the conversation.

“I understand the deadline but I’m a single parent. I can’t work 16-hour days anymore. There has to be some flexibility”.

“Yes, I know the project is important. I’m doing my best.” He looked up as they approached and quickly ended the call.

Up close, Victoria could see he was probably in his late 30s with kind but tired eyes. He wore jeans and a dark jacket and looked like he hadn’t slept well in days.

“Sophie, honey, I told you not to bother people.” His voice was gentle but worn.

“I didn’t bother her, daddy. I asked her something important.” Sophie looked up at Victoria encouragingly.

Victoria extended her hand. “I’m Victoria Sterling. Your daughter just made a very sweet request and I wanted to discuss it with you properly”.

The man shook her hand, his expression cautious. “I’m James Wilson. What kind of request?”.