Blue eyes, caramel blond hair, heart shaped face. Bored expression of a seven year old playing reluctant witness to adult conversation she doesn't understand. Unwilling to stay, unable to leave. Too old to play in the kids' corner of the quiet cafe, too young to be allowed to wander off on her own. Harassed mother on one side, sleeping baby brother on the other, pile of papers on the table, and across it a pair of strangers talking about boring things like mortgage and inspection. This isn't how she pictured a sunny Saturday afternoon.Sunlight filters through the window and she shifts on the padded bench, watching as the sparkly sequins on her jeans catch the light and wink at her. The strangers across the table ignore her, intent on the papers and her mother's droning voice. She's not used to being ignored, although with Billy's birth it's been happening more often. She sighs and twirls the tiny silver heart charm on her bracelet. She reaches for a pen lying forgotten on the table, but her mothers snatches it back, glaring at her and simultaneously smiling at the other couple.
She shifts again, trying to get comfortable and bumps the table, earning another glare. Now the other woman looks at her and gives her a bright fake smile.
"Are you bored, honey?"
She scowls back and mumbles, "No." The mother sighs, a familiar sound of frustration.
"Why don't you go play in the kids' corner? We'll be done here soon."
She looks at her mother, incredulous. The kids' corner is for little kids. She doesn't want to play there. Tears of frustration and anger well up and she's about to protest when she realizes that the door is right next to the toybox. Sliding out from behind the table, she wanders over to the toys and glances back. Her mother is pulling Billy's carrier closer, obliterating the space where she sat just a moment ago and is already back deep in conversation.
She pauses then slowly pushes open the door and steps outside. Through the glass door she can see her mother and the other couple. Her mother is talking and smiling, not looking at her, unaware she's no longer there.
She sits down on the steps outside, warmth of early spring sun making up for the chill of the breeze. Shivering, she hugs her knees and watches as the cars pass by. Some pull into the supermarket lot next door, others just head past. Across the street, on the soccer field an impromptu game is in full swing. She watches, twirling a strand of caramel blond hair.
A car pulls to a stop and the passenger side window slowly rolls down. A little pug pokes its head out, sneezing and she laughs, delighted.
"Hey, you look bored." The driver leans across the passenger seat and smiles at her. "I'm going to the park," he gestures up the hill toward the park with her favorite playground. "Wanna come along? You can play with Lucy here. She loves kids."
She hesitates for a moment and the little dog gives an encouraging bark, wagging its tail. She looks back at the cafe. Her mother is gesticulating with her hands, her face animated and as the girl watches, the mother throws back her head and laughs.
"Ok," she's already pulling open the car door even as the word falls from her lips. The door slams, the window rolls back up and the car pulls away.
The mother looks up, "Becky?"
