a much needed laugh - with apologies to texas

*

Do you remember me telling you about the friend that Brooke made at camp this summer?

Wait, I can’t possibly just let this go as if I’m honestly this casual about it.

Let’s try this …

AHEM.

EXCUSE ME, FOLKS.

IS THIS THING ON?

MY DAUGHTER MADE A NEW FRIEND, PEOPLE. AT CAMP. AND THEY’VE HAD THREE – COUNT EM – THREE PLAY DATES TOGETHER. AND THEY WANT TO HAVE MORE. AND WHEN WE LEFT THE LAST ONE (AT S’S GRANDMA’S HOUSE), SHE ASKED IF SHE COULD COME BACK HOME WITH US AND HAVE DINNER TOGETHER THAT VERY SECOND BECAUSE SHE DIDN’T WANT US TO HAVE TO LEAVE. AND SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE CAN’T WAIT FOR BROOKE TO COME TO HER HOUSE SO THAT SHE CAN MEET HER DOG, BUFFY. AND BROOKE CAN’T WAIT TO GO TO HER HOUSE TO MEET HER DOG, BUFFY. AND, UM .. Oh, sorry. Didn’t expect to be yelling for quite that long. But um, MY KID MADE A FRIEND AT CAMP!

**

The other night, Katie’s friend, Lila was at the house for a sleep-over. Brooke was apparently inspired. Just before bed, she brought a doll into the center of her room. She laid a bunch of stuffed animals on the floor next to the doll, then gently covered her with a small blanket.

“I’m having a sleep-over with a big girl,” she said as she patted the blanket before padding off to her own bed.

I thought of S and wondered. Why not? I tried to remember when that stuff typically starts. Second grade seemed about right. I sent an e-mail to S’s mother, Anne to see if S might be interested in coming to our house for a sleep-over sometime.

She called me the next day. She began tentatively, wanting to share a story, but not entirely certain that I’d find it funny. I told her not to worry. These can be tough waters to navigate from the outside. Hell, these can be tough waters to navigate from the inside.

She explained that at dinner that night, she had asked S if she’d like to have a sleep-over at Brooke’s house. She said that S was very enthusiastic and the biggest problem was explaining to her little brother why he couldn’t come too. (Say it with me ~ Awwwww.) They talked about it for a while, and somehow the conversation got around to S telling her brother that Brooke was a little different.

Anne asked what she meant by that and S said, “Well, she needs help starting her sentences sometimes.”

Anne asked her why she thought that was.

And apparently S has figured it all out.

She shrugged and said, “Cause she’s from Texas.”

And yes, with apologies to my many friends in the Lone Star state, I told Anne that I found it EXTREMELY funny.

If only I’d know earlier.

About these ads