All relative?

The other day I started a little argument between two boys. The two boys, one Bengali and the other English were playing outside our little flat when I as I walked by. So the Bengali boy says "Hello Auntie," and I answered "Hello Sweetie" (or whatever) and talked to him as Aunties generally do, then walked on. Then I over heard the English boy say to him "She can't be your Auntie!" and my boy says "Of course she is". I did not hear the boy's explanation because I was out of earshoot.

Were you to follow me around my neighbourhood, you would think I was related to every race in the world. When the young people are outside, I am followed by an echo of "Hello Auntie, Hello Auntie!!" Someties I do not even know who is shouting the greetings, but I always shout hello back. Sometimes some of the "nephews" behave typically - asking me for chocolate money and making those face no grownup can ignore. Sometimes I will ask one of the many "nieces" and "nephews" to ran to the shop for me - just as if I were back home.

My first young friend when I first moved to this place about 7 years ago, was a Bengali boy. In his cheeky way he asked me what my name was - so I looked at him and said quite sternly "To you, I am Auntie" and that started the whole Auntie business. Sometimes, I will meet my "nephews" and "nieces" in the presence of their parents who look at me in some confusion when their offspring say "hello Auntie" to a total stranger.

I do enjoy walking around in my neighbourhood, especially in the summer when most of my "family" is playing outside. I do not feel so isolated in the company of all those children who despite racial differences know that we are all part of the same human family. We should all be like children - accepting each other without questions.