charlobo-a-go-go

I went to Border’s with Bambina the other day, and while watching her play with Thomas and the Tank engine table at the back of the kids section by herself, I mused over her singletoness. As an only child, she plays quietly by herself and yells only in the company of the familiar. It was a bittersweet moment because I would love to see her throw down with a sibling, to chatter with another little voice, but those things all come in time, I hope.

I saw earlier a woman in a niqab around the store. She and I made eye contact and said hello to each other. I saw her with her husband soon after, and then came rushing to the table their three daughters. They reached around and grabbed the trains and started playing with them as kids are apt to do. Bambina stepped back and watched them take the train she was playing with. She made do with a sign and Mr. Toppenhat. The mom waved hello at Bambina and kid that she is waved back. The mom walked up to Bambina and handed her something, and I watched them interact. I wasn’t being nervous, but I was happy enough that she offered something to my child.

Meanwhile, the three girls were runnin’ thangs at the table, and Bambina contented herself to eating chips I bought earlier as she sat next to me. The mom chided her girls to share with Bambina. She’s so quiet, I thought to myself, I hope she doesn’t raise a fuss. She didn’t. God bless that child. I walked up to the table and found a train that wasn’t used and passed it to her. She went to the table and played quietly with her train.

Soon, moms takes her girls away. I took the gum from Bambina so she wouldn’t presumably lose it or try to eat it with the paper on. Later I looked at it over dinner, and it was from Saudi Arabia. Not opening it, I smelled it and it was so heavily perfumed, sweet and heavy. From the moms or the gum, I have no idea.