“But Daddy, why can’t I have this one?” asks the little girl, no older than four, her shoes squeaking on the floor as she jumps and wriggles.
“Because it’s for little girls,” says her father, who has tired circles under his eyes. “You are too big.”
“I am not,” says the little girl, indignantly. “I am a kid. I am little. I am very little.”
“But you are too big for that toy,” says her father. “That is a toy for someone who is littler than you.”
“I am not,” she says, but with less conviction. “I am still a kid and I am a little girl.”
“Come on,” says her dad. As he takes her hand, gently, she places the toy back on the shelf.
“Daddy,” says the little girl. “I am both very little and I am also not very little. Am I a big girl and a little girl at the same time?”
“Yes,” says her father. “You are.”
She mulls it over as she toddles beside the red shopping cart, holding her father’s hand. She giggles at first.
“That’s silly, Daddy.”
And then it dawns on her, slowly, how it is still true.
As the so-called “adult” who just ate ice cream for dinner, I can’t help but think, “I feel ya, sister.”
****
personal note: If you’re a regular reader of this blog and couldn’t help but notice that I disappeared for like, three weeks — I’m totally still alive. Just got busy and forgot to write. Was so hoping that I could make a glorious and dramatic comeback to my online writing life with a post explaining that I had fallen madly in love, or fought off a band of vicious pirates, or anything slightly more compelling than “she’s been working a lot and hasn’t done her laundry in like a month and keeps trying to function on like three hours of sleep,” but ….. Alas, alas, alas.
This is why I have Hello Kitty all all over my study. Need to take care of my little girl.
I totally get this and have been there in a previous life. But I must admit that I checked your blog earlier today to make sure that my reader did not drop your posts. Glad you posted and hang in there.
Welcome back, Katherine. Good to hear you again. 🙂
X) Cute.
I’m now in the second half of my life and yet I too ate ice cream for dinner the other night. With peanut M&Ms.
I feel like this all the time!
I was just contemplating ice cream for breakfast. This confirmed it’s the only option.
I just wanted to drop you a note & let you know how much joy your blog brings me. Your sense of humor, writing style, outlook, & approach makes me laugh, think, & feel connected like “oh, I’m not the only one who does/faces that!” Simply put, you’re awesome, & your posts ate always well worth any necessary wait.
Sent from my Cricket smartphone
Reblogged this on The Writer Monkey.
Welcome back!
Fireworks bring out the little in me. 😉
I missed you 🙂
It’s so good to have you back
Thank you for following WordBowlbyMsCharlieS.com (hope to have a “word” from you) and introducing me to your compelling writing! Glad to read you have returned from your “hiatus”, looking forward to more!
About those pirates. I think they were yo ho ho-ing in my back yard last night. But how can you forget about writing? I never can. A day without writing is still a day without writing.
I feel like that ALL THE TIME. I have too much fun to be a plain adult.