A conversation with Alyssa, who nowadays, insists she is no longer 3 years old. She is "going on 4". I always pick her from school, every day I wait outside the gate and she'd see me and call out, "Ma-ma! Ma-ma!" in that Europeon accent she once heard in some foreign film. Then we'd walk that alley to the main street. This was our conversation.
Alyssa:"Remy* is my new boyfriend, mommy." (it had been daddy the past months)
Me:"OK...is it alright with him?"
Alyssa:"Yeah"
Me:"Why is he your boyfriend?"
Alyssa:"Because...(softly) he loves me."
Me:"How about you?You love him?"
Alyssa:"Yeah"
Me:"That's nice."
Alyssa:"We're getting married. Remy* and I are getting married."
Me:"Ok, as long as you keep going to school now, high school, finish college and have work, okay honey?"
Alyssa:"Ok mom."
(I forgot about the whole thing...and Alyssa by now is looking at the cars passing by)
Alyssa:"I can wear a white dress?"
Me:"Yes honey...how about a pair of beautiful white shoes?"
Alyssa:"Sure, sure...and ill bring flowers?"
Me:"Yep."
Alyssa:"Thank you mommy."
Me:"You're welcome."
(Silence again)
Alyssa:"But I dont want to throw the flowers."
Me:"Ok...you dont have to."
Alyssa:"OK. Thanks."
*name of the boyfriend has been changed to protect him and his mommy, who is a good friend of mine.