"Please, Connor, please? Please play 'Mannequin and Natalie the Horse' with me. Please?" Natalie misses her brother when he is at school and, most days, their reunion can't take place soon enough for her.
"Natalie," Connor sighed. He needs more time for reentry than Natalie gives him and had already had his fill of make-believe play: The two had spent a good 45 minutes playing with the ice-blue Matchbox car that they call "Mannequin" and the brown toy horse that they call "Natalie the Horse." (Not "Natalie." Not "Horse." "Natalie the Horse.")
"Please, Connor. Please," Natalie pleaded. "I'll be your best friend."
Connor tsked. "You already are my best friend, Natalie."
How the discussion ended, I don't know. My eyes had sprung a leak. I needed a tissue.
the lady approves
so love
