“Sally, when will you start sleeping in your own bed?” I asked my five-year-old as I jumped in under the covers with her. “When I’m in first grade.” She answered. It was April in Sherman, Connecticut which meant it was still cold at night so we were under the down comforters. My husband, Bob was abroad on business which was not out of the ordinary. So we two girls were alone which I always liked anyway.
“Would you like to hear the story about the day you were born?” I asked. “It was a cold but sunny day in March ... ” I started.
“Mommy, I could act like a teenager.” Sally interrupted.
“Whhaat?” I was confused.
“Mommy, I could act like a teenager. McKenzie had a birthday party and it was a teenage birthday party. I could have dressed up like a teenager and acted like one too … ”
“ … I thought McKenzie was my friend. She hurt me more than anyone I’ve ever known. I invited her to my birthday party. I invited all the girls in my class. I did the right thing. I don’t understand Mommmmy.” And then big, gigantic tears came out of her big, gigantic, big, brown eyes.
As I lay there, with my head on the pillow next to hers, tears came out of my own eyes but all I could say was, “I don’t know, Sally. I’ll call Renee tomorrow and ask her about it. But you’re right. McKenzie didn’t do the right thing and her mother didn’t show her the right way.”
Then I added, “But before you fall asleep, try to think about the puppy I was telling you about. Do you remember? There was a doggie that caught my eye when I took Durgy to training school. Let’s go take a look tomorrow, and maybe we’ll get her.”
The next morning I made the promised call. Renee and I were friends so I didn’t feel funny calling her:
“Hi, Renee. It’s Liz. Sally mentioned that McKenzie had a birthday party.”
“Oh, yeah.”
“Well, do you mind if I ask (pause) if Sally did something to McKenzie?”
“No. Why?”
“Umm, Sally noticed that she wasn’t invited and wondered about it.”
“She invited a couple of the boys instead.”
“Renee, there are only five girls in the class. Why would you leave anyone out?”
“McKenzie just didn’t want her.”
“Gee, I have to tell you, that Sally and I had a talk about this last night. And, umm, I had to tell her my feelings on this which is that McKenzie did not do the right thing and that you did not show her the right way.” I rambled on.
