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“My grandma is so much fun. She’s kind of like my best friend. I love hanging out with her. You’re also going to love Teddy, her puppy, so much.” I smile thinking of Nana’s dog.
“I can’t wait. I wish Daddy would let me get a dog of my own,” she sighs.
We finally get off the bus and it’s only a short walk to Nana’s building.
The doorman smiles when he sees me and greets Syd by saying, “Hello, little lady.”
We enter the building and pass security before heading into the elevator. Syd holds on to my jacket and it’s the sweetest thing that she feels safe with me.
We enter the apartment and are greeted by Nora.
“And who is this?” Nora asks, leaning forward with her hands tucked between her thighs.
Syd shrugs and looks up to me.
“I’ve known Nora since I was about your age,” I explain to Syd. “She works for my nana.”
Syd nods.
“This is Syd,” I say to Nora.
“Pleasure to meet you, Syd,” Nora says. “Come on in. Nana told me we’d be having a special visitor today. Maybe Syd would like to bake cookies with Anna in the kitchen later.”
At that comment, Syd’s blue eyes round and her head snaps up to me.
“That would be fine with me,” I say.
Syd nods her head so fast it bounces.
“Nana is waiting for you in the living room.” Nora smirks watching Syd. “I’ll let Anna know Syd would like to bake. What kind of cookies do you like?”
Nora waits but Syd doesn’t speak.
I crouch down so Syd and I are eye level and whisper, “I know it’s hard for you to trust adults, but this is a safe place. Every time I was sad when I was a little girl I would come here and Nana, Nora, and Anna would find a way to cheer me up.”
Syd reaches over to my ear and covers her mouth with her hand. “I like chocolate chip cookies.”
I grin and stand.
“Syd would love to bake chocolate chip cookies,” I tell Nora.
“On it,” she says with a sure nod. “Come, let’s go find Nana. She is going to be so happy to meet Syd. You know, she reminds me a lot of you when you were little,” Nora says to me.
“I see it too,” I agree. We walk up to Nana and introduce her to Syd.
Nana extends her hand to Syd. “Aren’t you a beautiful girl.”
“Nana wants to shake your hand,” I say to Syd.
Syd extends her hand to Nana and laughs. Teddy is sitting on her lap and Syd’s gaze goes to the cute little dog.
“This is Teddy the Third,” Nana says with a smile. “Would you like to play with him?”
“Yes,” Syd says to Nana.
Nana knows Syd doesn’t really talk to adults because I shared that with her on the last visit. So it makes her smile when Syd uses her sweet voice.
Nana places Teddy on the floor and he begins to circle Syd’s feet. She bends down and pats him and then he licks up her hand.
