Thursday, July 8, 2010

a conversation fom yesterday, during which I nearly cried

Frances, picking up my book from a nearby table: Mama, how did you get Sense and Sensibility, and when did you get it?

M: I got it at the library, just before I left for my trip.

F: But why did you get it?

M: Because I was a little scared and nervous, and I love that book, and I thought it would make me feel better to read it sometimes while I was away.

(A strange silence descends. Gabriel looks up, startled, from the heretofore extremely absorbing play dough snakes he had been rolling out.)

F: You were scared? Scared??

M: A little.

F: But why were you scared?

M: Because I'd never been away from you guys for so long. And I'd never done anything like what I was going to do before. I was nervous, I guess.

(More quiet. Gabriel is staring at me intently, with that extremely-wide-open windows to the soul look that both my children seem to come by naturally).

G: You were scared when you went away.

M: Yes.

G: I was scared when you went away too, Mama.

3 comments:

Laura said...

Oh, yes. I have tears in my eyes now. Speaking the simple truth can break hearts. As Shakespeare says, "It is not enough to speak but to speak true." I can't wait to see my sweeties.

Rachel said...

oh, meagan.

Anna said...

Ohhhhh my goodness. Oh my.