NICK: Daddy?
ME: Yes.
NICK: I want a trophy.
ME: A trophy. You mean like the kind you saw at t-ball practice?
NICK: Yeah.
ME: Those are really big trophies.
NICK: Yeah! Can I get one today?
ME: No. Those are for the little league team. They’re a bit older than you. You have to play t-ball, first and then you can play baseball when you get older.
NICK: I want a trophy.
ME: Well…it takes practice, bud. You have to practice and work and get good at something before you get –
NICK: CAN WE GO OUTSIDE?
ME: Uh…I guess. Why?
NICK: I HEAR MY GUYS OUTSIDE!
ME: Oh. You mean Janie and Paula? They might just be playing on their porch, buddy. They don’t always come outside in the yard and play.
NICK: I WANNA GO OUTSIDE! MAYBE THEY’LL SEE ME AND COME OUT AND PLAY!
ME: Uh…okay…I just…you know they might be doing a family activity and if that’s the case we don’t want to interrupt –
NICK: I WANNA GO OUTSIDE!
ME: Okay. Okay…Wait! Don’t just run outside! Wait until I…!
NICK: (outside) HEY, YOU GUYS!
JANIE: Hi, Nick!
(long pause)
ME: What are they doing?
NICK: They’re just playing on the porch. They won’t come outside.
ME: Yeah. It looks like their grandpa is visiting. Let’s not bother them if they’re spending time with their grandpa.
NICK: Oh, maaaan…Can’t I just go over there?
ME: No. The door to their porch is closed, Nick. They’re on the other side of the fence. If you went in there, it would be like just walking into their house.
NICK: Oh, maaaaan…
ME: I know, buddy. You can play with them some other time.
NICK: But…but…
ME: Oh, bud. You don’t need to cry. It’s okay.
NICK: I just wanted to play with them.
ME: I know.
NICK: Because I never get to play with them.
ME: You do sometimes. But look…Janie is a little older than you. She’s seven. So sometimes she has to do things that seven year-olds do, you know?
NICK: But I don’t have anyone to play with.
ME: You can play with them later. Some other day.
NICK: But I want to play now.
ME: Nick…don’t cry. It’s really…it’s okay…
JANIE: Hey, Nick!
(pause)
ME: Say hi.
NICK: Hi.
JANIE: If I throw the ball over the fence, you catch it and then throw it to me over the fence!
NICK: Okay!
JANIE: Here!
(Throws ball over fence)
JANIE: Did you see it?
NICK: Yeah!
JANIE: Throw it back!
NICK: Okay!
JANIE: Hang on! I’m gonna stand on this thing so I can see you over the fence!
NICK: Okay!
JANIE: Hi, Nick!
NICK: Hi! Do you want to see something?
JANIE: Okay!
NICK: I have to go get a thing!
ME: Nick, where are you going…? Uh…Hi, Janie.
JANIE: Hi.
ME: Nick is just going to our porch to get…something…I don’t know…
NICK: I’m getting my t-ball stuff!
ME: Oh.
NICK: Wanna see me hit the ball?
JANIE: Yeah!
(Nick sets up tee, puts ball on tee)
JANIE: I’ll cheer for you! Yay! Go, Nick! Go, Nick!
(Nick hits ball off tee)
JANIE: Yay!
NICK: I’m really, really awesome at it!
JANIE: I know! C’mere!
NICK: What?
JANIE: C’mere! I wanna give you a pine cone!
NICK: Okay.
JANIE: Here it is! Here’s your pine cone!
NICK: Thanks.
JANIE: I gotta go in, now. Bye!
NICK: Bye!
ME: Well. How ’bout that?
NICK: Got a trophy.
David Lee White 