Encounter

We went to Mountstewart gardens, a National trust property on the Ards peninsula. We walked the gardens and lakes and sat in the sun with coffee and caramel shortcake and had a great day

I was waiting on a bench for Naomi to come back with the coffees when a small child, maybe two years old appeared. 

"Eyeoh,"she said.
"Hello" I replied.
"Eyeoh," said the little girl, waving her bubble wand at me.
I looked around for mum, but the child appeared to be on her own.
"Where's mummy?"
"Eyeoh," she said, prodding the wand into the space between the slats on the wooden bench.
I spotted a small family group close by. "Is this one yours?" I called.
They shook their heads and swiftly turned away.
By this time my new best friend was whacking her bubble wand against the poor old park bench and looked as if she was thinking of whacking me as well. "Where's mummy?" I tried again.
"Ummy, argolalaaguhag, appy."
Thinking I had hit on a clue I said, "Pappy, where's Pappy?"
"Eyeoh," came the reply.
I was beginning to get uncomfortable, looking around for any help that might offer itself.
"Eyeoh, appy gagaumga, " and another prod with the bubble wand that came close to inflicting real bodily harm on me.
"Where's mumm........"
"Oh, she's very adventurous," came mummy's voice from behind.
She surely is, I thought  as mummy advanced with a slightly apologetic smile
"She loves to explore"
I said "Bye Bye."
The little girl looked me hard in the eye.
"Eyeoh," she said and smiled as she turned and walked away..