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“See, the thing is, it's too hot out here to be worrying about stuff. Cousin Harry and Cousin Maggie love us, so, as long as they turn on the air conditioning and feed us on time, we're gonna be all right!”

The wisdom of seven-year-old Amanda Ludlow, who knew people for who they were instantly, and knew her Lee cousins were going to do a great job taking care of her and her siblings while their grandparents were away.

“Ain't it the truth,” best friend eight-year-old Gracie Trent from next door said. “I don't worry about things because there are people from Earth to Heaven who take care of stuff for me, and I'd rather be coloring.”

“I'd rather be eating, because, see, I'm going for all this because, see, lasagna, and spaghetti, and macaroni, and meatballs, and more meatballs, and even more meatballs … I mean, if you aren't having sausages, then meatballs are just as good, see, because, when you know someone who makes them right, you don't mind having that person around, so, although I'm going to miss Papa and Grandma so, so much, we're getting spaghetti and meatballs, so, that's still gonna be OK.”

That was Lil' Robert Ludlow, five years old, champion talker, and champion eater in his size division, in the Ludlow house.

“Now, see, this is the thing about life: you gotta focus on the blessings,” Gracie said. “Grandma Velma says that all the time. So, it can be really scary that people who usually take care of us are going away for a little while, but there's also some blessings. Y'all's Cousin Maggie knows her food.”

“She sure does!” Amanda said. “Like Grandma's food and Papa's food and your parents' food – you can just taste all the love in it!”

“Does your Cousin Harry cook?” Gracie asked.

“Yes, he does, and he cooks with love too – maybe a little weird, but if you gotta have raccoon or possum, have Cousin Harry cook it.”

“What's a possum?” Lil' Robert said.

“It's kind of like chicken, but it can hang by its tail,” Amanda said. 

“Doesn't everything taste kind of like chicken that isn't chicken or beef or lamb?” Gracie said.

“Basically,” her eleven-year-old sister Velma said. “It kind of depends on how you season it.”

“Right, and that's the love part,” Gracie said.

“Exactly – which is why I'm not worried about my Lee cousins taking care of us, because with everything they do, you can taste the love part, or feel it making sure you don't fall out of their laps, or in how they look and talk to us.”

“Ain't it the truth,” Gracie said. “Like the song says, all you need is love.”