“Has he rolled over yet?”
FLASH BACK - 9 years.
Setting: a Starbucks in Brookline, MA.
Me as a sleepy mom, computer open, trying to type, hoping baby will sleep.
{Yawn}
Older woman with loud voice is waiting for her coffee. Rummages through the newspapers and not finding anything she wants, comes over to chat.
”Has she rolled over yet?”
{slowly raise eyes from computer screen} “Not yet.” {smile and return to typing}
“She’s a small little one, isn’t she?”
{Barely hide sigh. Close lid of laptop} “Yes. She’s a little peanut. Do you have any children?
“Two of them, all grown up now. I’m expecting my first grandchild any day now. Won’t say whether it’s a boy or girl though. How about you? Did you tell people?”
“Yes. She was the first girl in the family, so everyone was excited.”
“Yeah, I wish they’d tell me. I found the cutest little stuffed animal. But I couldn’t get it because it was pink, and Lord knows if it’s a girl.”
“I hope you find out soon.” {Yawn. Look down at baby and see her wiggle fingers}
“Looks like she’s waking up.” {said loudly, hopefully}
“Yes, yes it does.” {said softly, in resignation. Begin packing bag.}
FLASH FORWARD- the present
I tiptoe by the sleeping baby and haggard mom. Having answered the question from the matriarch near her, she begins reading on her Kindle again. For all I know she could be reading UNTANGLING THE KNOT. I leave her to it and distract the woman near her with a very soft question about her grandchildren.
FLASH BACK - 9 years.
Setting: a Starbucks in Brookline, MA.
Me as a sleepy mom, computer open, trying to type, hoping baby will sleep.
{Yawn}
Older woman with loud voice is waiting for her coffee. Rummages through the newspapers and not finding anything she wants, comes over to chat.
”Has she rolled over yet?”
{slowly raise eyes from computer screen} “Not yet.” {smile and return to typing}
“She’s a small little one, isn’t she?”
{Barely hide sigh. Close lid of laptop} “Yes. She’s a little peanut. Do you have any children?
“Two of them, all grown up now. I’m expecting my first grandchild any day now. Won’t say whether it’s a boy or girl though. How about you? Did you tell people?”
“Yes. She was the first girl in the family, so everyone was excited.”
“Yeah, I wish they’d tell me. I found the cutest little stuffed animal. But I couldn’t get it because it was pink, and Lord knows if it’s a girl.”
“I hope you find out soon.” {Yawn. Look down at baby and see her wiggle fingers}
“Looks like she’s waking up.” {said loudly, hopefully}
“Yes, yes it does.” {said softly, in resignation. Begin packing bag.}
FLASH FORWARD- the present
I tiptoe by the sleeping baby and haggard mom. Having answered the question from the matriarch near her, she begins reading on her Kindle again. For all I know she could be reading UNTANGLING THE KNOT. I leave her to it and distract the woman near her with a very soft question about her grandchildren.