Would Someone Please Answer That Kid?!?

"MaMA! MaMA! MaMA!"

"MA!!!"

I hear it almost daily during the summer, usually in the coolness of the morning. The cries seem to go on forever. At first I thought the kid was neglected. He doesn't just call out "Mama," he screeches it. "MaMA!" I thought maybe his mother was one of those parents who didn't even notice the noise anymore.

GREAT-NEPHEW JACK, VISITING FROM ENGLAND.
NOT THE KID I''M TALKING ABOUT AND
DEFINITELY NOT DEPRIVED OF LOVE AND ATTENTION.

Poor little guy. He lives across the street and I can see and hear him from my balcony. His name is Pepe. I know because, unlike his mama, the neighbors call back to him. "Hola, Pepe," they say. "Qué tal?" (Hi, Pepe. How are you?)

All Pepe does is call back, "MaMA! MaMA! MA!!!"

Mama has left him out on the terrace for an hour. She finally takes him back inside before it gets too hot. She coos, "Hola, cariño," (Hello, darling.) 

Obviously, she does care.

PEPE. ALONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN ON THE BALCONY.