My favorite ant isn’t the kind you find marching across your kitchen floor or building tiny hills in your backyard. No, mine is Auntie Grace, though we just call her "Ant G" for fun.
Ant G is the kind of woman who walks into a room and instantly becomes its sun. Her laughter has this magical way of chasing away gloom, and her stories are laced with both wisdom and unexpected mischief. She isn't technically my aunt in the strictest sense, she's my mother’s best friend from childhood, but she’s always been part of the family tapestry.
What makes her my favorite “ant” is how she makes everyone feel seen. She remembers the little things you told her in passing weeks ago. She’ll show up at your school play even if no one else can. She has this knack for turning an ordinary evening into an unforgettable memory, just add pepper soup, an old radio playing highlife music, and her favorite wrapper tied high around her chest.
I remember one rainy Saturday when I was younger. Power was out. Everyone was grumpy. But Ant G gathered all the cousins in the dim living room, lit a kerosene lamp, and told us stories from her childhood, some funny, others haunting. By the time she was done, the rain had stopped, and so had our complaints.
So when people talk about their favorite ants, I smile quietly. Because mine doesn’t just crawl around looking for crumbs, she plants joy, wisdom, and a deep sense of belonging in everyone she meets.
And honestly, that’s the kind of ant I’d like to grow up to be.