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 Holly Winter Living The Life Of Holly May 15, 2003 “Hello Sarah, Larah, Loo Lah.” I said, brightly. “Why do you always call me that?” She barked, as she pushed her way into my apartment. “Because I can?” I said, lightly. I kissed Ralph on the cheek. “How are you?” “Somebody stole my little girl and replaced her with a teenager.” He moaned. “Oh. Don’t worry. It only lasts eight years or so.” “Hey. Holly.” Sarah said. “Did you finally get some pistachio pudding on your friend food shelf, like I ASKED you to?” “Maybe.” I said. “Hey, Sarah.” Ralph said. “You can’t talk that way.” “Oh. I don’t mind.” I assured him. “I will let her know when she has crossed my boundaries.” “No.” Ralph said. “She is trying to push your buttons. It’s her new thing.” “Oh.” I laughed. “She can try. But. I am good at pushing buttons too. I’m really, really good. You wanna play that game little girl?” I challenged. I learned how to push buttons from all the emotionally disturbed students I taught in middle school. Sarah wasn’t deterred. She tossed the box of pistachio pudding aside. “I want chocolate pudding. How come you never have chocolate stuff here? Just cause you don’t like it or what?” I laughed. “Sarah.” Ralph said, exasperated. Nobody had warned him about little girls becoming teenagers. “Why are you acting like this?” “You want chocolate pudding?” I asked. “Yes. But, of course you don’t have any, do you?” She asked, snidely. “Um. I don’t have any unopened boxes, but I do have some already made in the fridge. Would that work for you, princess?” She stared at me. “YOU have chocolate pudding? Why?” “Oh. I thought that it might mess with your brain. I like to always be one step ahead of you. I call it ‘Teen Kung Fu.’ I said. “Good. I’ll take a chocolate pudding.” Ralph said, as he sat on the couch and put his feet up. “Why do I always have to bring you stuff?” Sarah complained as she stomped around the kitchen getting the pudding and a spoon. She handed him his dessert. “Because I am your Daddy and you love me so much that you want to do things for me.” “Yeah. You’re my Daddy…” Ralph ignored her. “Hey, Holly. Her mom could use a break. Why don’t you keep her here for a few days?” “Oh. I would love that. I would feed her chocolate pudding and let her watch my TV without cable.” I offered. “No thanks.” She said, sourly. Sarah turned to me. “Hey. Holly. Let’s walk over to Starbucks and get a newspaper. I want to help you plan your weekend.” “No. I don’t feel like walking over there right now.” “Come on.” She said. “Let’s go for a walk. I don’t want to sit in here all day. Let’s get outside. Daddy can stay here.” “Um. Sarah. Are you asking me, or telling me?” I asked. “Asking? Come on. I want to walk over there with you. Ok?” She asked sweetly. I knew it was some kind of set up. I could feel it. Ralph settled into the couch. “I’ll take a nap while you’re gone.” He said. “Ok.” I said slowly. “Hey Holly.” Sarah said. “Yes?” “When we are walking over there and men in cars beep their horns at us…” “Yes?” “Well, this time, I am going to wave and invite them over to talk to us, ok?” “No. Sarah. You can’t wave at strange men driving by. This is Denver, not the little town you live in. It isn’t safe to wave to strange cars. It isn’t safe. We won’t go if you are going to do that.” “Oh. I don’t care.” She said. “What do you mean, you don’t care?” “I don’t want to go, anyway. I just wanted to push one of your buttons.” She said brightly, then turned and bounded back into the apartment to mix up some fresh pistachio pudding. ------------ About the author: Holly Winter is a teacher and a writer and a flight attendant living in Denver, Colorado, USA. She can be reached at her website or email: Holly@livingthelifeofholly.com Comment on this column in the forum. ------------ |
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