Please and Thank You

All of a sudden she she's turned into a grown up. I'm not sure how it happened. Last week she seemed so baby-like and this week - poof - Big Girl.

Our town recently had a craft fair, which we went to for wont of something better to do on a Saturday morning. We were early so we camped out for a little while at a cafe and bought coffee, water and oreos. (Relax, she'd had breakfast before we left). The vendors were still setting up when we headed out into the mid-morning sun. We chatted with neighbors, bought a few things -- including some of the most sinful pies known to man -- and paid a visit to a flouncy clown making animal balloons for donations.

(I was careful not to recoil visibly from the sight of the woman. ... You know clowns frighten me, but Annabel doesn't share my hangups just yet and I hope to keep it that way.)

However, the best part was when a local disc jockey spinning the oldies pulled out bags of new stuffed animals and told the kids they were free to anyone who said "please" and "thank you."

I could see in her eyes that she was rapt with desire. I wondered what she would do.

Would she ask me to get her one?

Would she be shy and go without?

Or would she mosey on over after other kids had made their selections, point to the largest, bluest teddy he had and ask in a tiny voice, '"Could I please have that one?"

Of course then she'd spend the rest of the day ... and the next three at that ... reliving the moment and how she said "please" and "thank you," and how the nice man who gave her "sunshine bear" said "welcome."