Play Date

This is a long story, but I'm going to try and make it brief without losing too much meaning...

A few years ago when we moved into our neighborhood I quickly recognized the face of a girl that I went to school with. We were in different classes from grade school on through high school. In fact, I helped out a lot in her classroom in grade school, it was a reward that good students got to do. I have not seen her since the conclusion of high school but memories quickly flooded my mind when I saw her quirky gait and heard her loud, ever so repetitive voice. I knew immediately who she was. Within a couple of days of moving in, I was over at her house reintroducing myself to her and was greeted with a lot of hugs, head pats, and excitement. I told her mom that Nezzi and I went to school together and we tied the course of 30 years together all in a short time.

Over the next couple of years Nezzi's mom and I had a few conversations out at the mailbox or in the street...they were short, sweet, and informal with Bella usually at my side and Nezzi at her side. Once Nathan was born, our conversations became longer and she became more open. At the conclusion of our conversations Bella would always ask me why Nezzi talked the way she did, in fact, she told me that Nezzi scared her. I gently explained that everyone is different, added a few generalizations and that seemed to satisfy her.

Fast forward to this Spring...

We were outside doing yard work when Nezzi showed up with a bottle of water for Bella. She said, "It's it's it's hot, hot, for you you you you you you. Drink, drink, drink, I love love love love love you you you." Bella said thank you, drank the water and we walked Nezzi back across the busy street.

Since that day, Bella has asked if Nezzi could come over and "play". I thought to myself, "Wow, she's asking an adult woman to come over and play. Is this o.k? Will her mom be o.k. with it? What will Nezzi think?" The next time I saw Nezzi's mom I told her about Bella's interest in having Nezzi over to play and she was excited for the opportunity.

This Friday when we got home from appointments there was a bag of coloring books and a baby doll sitting on our porch. I immediately knew who it was from because Nezzi LOVES to color. I looked across the street and saw her outside and thought it would be the perfect time to have her over and color with Bella. Bella jumped with joy and screeched in excitement as we walked across the street to get Nezzi.

When the girls got here they sat at the dining room table and colored in their coloring books. There conversation was about the characters in the books and soon enough they were both asking for snacks. I felt as though I was hosting two four year olds...cognitively, I was. Soon enough they were outside planting sunflower seeds, playing tag and swinging. Bella was loving every minute of it, so was I, so was Nezzi. When it was time to go, both girls were disappointed, but I reassured them that there would be more opportunities to "play".

We walked Nezzi back home and filled her mom in on what the girls did together, gave hugs, and then cam back home. Bella was elated that she got to play with Nezzi. The one thing that she did ask me after taking Nezzi home was why she was so big. You see, Bella found someone to play with that felt normal to her, she felt like she was playing with one of her peers. The only difference she saw between herself and Nezzi was size. I just reinforced that everyone is different and for now, I am good with that explanation.

My sweet Bella knows no difference right now. I love the purity of her heart. She had a play date and it was fun. That's all that matters to her. She has no idea what that play date did for me. I am grateful.