Always casual, Violet declined to meet me for coffee but invited me to play blocks instead. She wore her favorite t-shirt (a cheeseburger driving a car on orange jersey) and a diaper; her hair was stylishly tousled as if she’d just awoken from a nap.
Mommy: Do you know what it means to be thankful?
Violet: Yeah.
M: Is it like things you like? You’re thankful for things you like?
V: The pumpkin patch.
M: You’re thankful for the pumpkin patch? That’s cool. What else are you thankful for? What else do you like?
V: 12345678910
M: You’re thankful for numbers?
V: Yeah. I need Elmo’s song.
M: You’re thankful for Elmo’s song? What else?
V: And Netflix.
M: Are you only thankful for TV?
V: Get Elmo’s song.
M: I’ll put on Elmo’s song when you tell me what you’re thankful for.
V: Uhhhh… Elmo’s song.
M: My goodness.
V: Now!
Unfortunately, our interview deteriorated from there–before it started, really. Maybe next year.
