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“I’m six and a half,” Sophie declared, holding up her fingers. “How old are you?”
“Oh my goodness, Sophie, you don’t ask adults how old they are,” Chloe gently scolded, walking up behind us. “Sorry if she’s bothering you.” She tried moving her away.
“She would never bother me,” I answered on a light smile. “She seems tired. Is she used to a nap?”
“She does get tired easily these days.” Chloe fidgeted with Sophies hair.
I’d been listening to her heavy breathing. I turned in my chair and squatted down to be face-to-face with Sophie, playing at a casual conversation, but really having a closer look at her.
“Can you show me on your fingers again how old you are?” I asked, now noticing the white around her lips and the blue under her fingernails as she did. “Sophie, tell me something. Did you like the plane ride here?”
“It was the most fun thing I ever did,” Sophie said through a couple of coughs. “Did you ever go on a big plane like me?”
“Yes, I’ve been on a big plane. I’ve even been on small planes,” I said, standing back up. “Would you like to have an Easter egg hunt with us later?”
“An Easter egg hunt? Are we hunting for these big bum nuts?” Sophie perked up at that. “You can’t put too many in an Easter basket.”
“You’re very smart. Are you sure you’re only six and a half?” I watched her smile widen at the compliment.
“Yes, Mr. Trey, Aunt Mia says I’m very smart too.” Sophie looked up at her mother. “I can’t wait to get to go to school.”
“You mean back to school after Easter break?” Her answer puzzled me. “Are you in first grade?”
“I don’t go to school. Mummy helps me with my schoolwork, but I miss my friends sometimes.” Sophie hugged her mother’s leg. “Mummy, am I in first grade?”
“Yes, you sure are, and you will get to play with your friends again soon.” Chloe kissed her forehead. “I think it’s time to get back to egg decorating. Why don’t you come help your mum for a little while?”
“Bye, Mr. Trey.” Sophie followed her mom, then came back and whispered in my ear. “I think yours is the prettiest.”
“Thank you. You come back and help me if you want to,” I called to her retreating to her mother.
I watched her climb into her mother’s lap and lean into her shoulder. Chloe caught me looking and mouthed a thank you. I hadn’t done anything to be thanked for, but I smiled back with a nod anyways.
Back to your egg masterpiece. She’s probably just overtired from traveling.
I impatiently waited for round three of decorations. I wasn’t much for flowers. My mother changed up the decorations yearly so the eggs wouldn’t be the same. It was crazy how much money these silly eggs made at the charity auction. I decided a little stroll around the table would create a stir and I wanted to snoop, too.
They think I don’t know they took a picture over my head of my egg. They don’t know who they’re messing with here. I’ve been making these eggs longer than most of them.
“What are you looking at, Three?” Murphy covered her egg with her arms. “Mom, I think he’s cheating.”
“Murphy, how is he cheating? He’s just walking around,” Mom asked without looking up from her own creation. “Besides, weren’t you just sneaking a picture of his?”
“What?” I said in exaggerated disbelief. “You took a picture? I’m so upset about this.”
I continued to walk around the table being overly dramatic about my disbelief in their treatment of me. My mother made a silly face at me. No one could ever fool her. My father never even acknowledged the show I was putting on.
“Henry Hawthorne, you just get back to your egg and stop giving them such a hard time,” Diana fussed behind me. “Go on now, I’m not ringing this bell for the next round until you behave yourself.”
Diana was like a second mother, or a grandmother, to all of us, but I was the oldest, so to her I was always the one to set the example, even now.
“Yes ma’am, I’m going, but can I look at the tray first?” I asked with a pout.
“That pout never worked when you were five, it won’t work now.” Diana pushed me toward my chair. “Miss Sophie. Would you like to ring the bell?”
I’d noticed Sophie wasn’t decorating, she’d been just laying against Chloe, but when Diana asked her about the bell she immediately cheered up. Diana was pretty quick about stuff like that.
“Yes, I would.” Sophie jumped off Chloe’s lap. “How many times do I ring it?”
