Episode Two: Stanley and the Lágrimas

"Why are you crying?" Mia asked Stanley. Big salty drops fell from his eyes, slid down his cheeks, and landed in wet splotches on his grey t-shirt. Usually she could tell why he cried. It was often when she also felt like crying or laughing, but didn't quite get to that same point. This time was different. This time, she was just confused.

He grinned, and used his t-shirt sleeve to wipe his cheeks. "Ill tell you in just a sec," he sniffed.

Mia knew it didn't take much for Stanley to cry. In class earlier today, they had been learning about endangered species. When their teacher started talking about the Atlantic bluefin tuna, Mia looked over at Stanley. Sure enough, he was sitting, unblinking, absorbing the sadness of a species dying out. His cheeks were wet. "It's gonna be okay, Stanley," she had whispered. He looked over at her and nodded.

This afternoon though, he was nearly quivering with excitement. He clenched his fists. He jumped up and down, as if his eight-year-old body could not contain so much exuberance. Naturally, for Stanley, a few more tears squirted out. He took a few deep breaths, then turned to Mia, smiling brightly through his tears.

"Well?" Mia asked. She wondered if he would be able to speak, to explain himself.

"My eyes. I learned something about my eyes.  I know I cry a lot. My mom says I'm just sensitive."

"That's good. It's good to be sensitive. That's what Mrs. Smith said today," Mia replied.

"Yeah. Okay. Well." Stanley paused. Then in a single breath of rushed words, "Didyouknowsometearskeepoureyeballswetsotheydon'tgetscratched?"

"Our eyeballs?!"

"Yeah. Some types of tears help protect our eyeballs."

"Cool. What about the other types of tears?" Mia asked.

"I dunno."

"And . . . why were you crying? Why you so happy now?"

"Snacks, Mia. Snacks!"

"Snacks?"

"My mom got us new snacks today. Kiwis today. We get kiwis after school today."

Mia wished she had the same enthusiasm for furry brown fruit. At this very second, she could not think of a single piece of less exciting news. Yet, she did not want to disappoint Stanley.

She responded, "Cool."

Stanley looked at her, grinned, and let another tear drop from his eye.