WHAT DAY IS IT, PAPA? (A DIALOGUE)

-What day is it, Papa?

-What day? Do you mean, of the week?

-Yeah. Yes, Papa. Day of the week.

-It’s Thursday. Why do you ask, boy? Do you have a date?

-A what?

-A date. It’s when…oh. Nevermind, boy. Why do you ask?

-Because you said we can do the throwing back on Thursday. I want to do that, like we did…earlier, remember? I like looking at old pictures with you, Papa.

-They’re not all that old, boy. Anyway…. You do? You like looking with me? It doesn’t bore you?

-No, Papa. It doesn’t bore me. Sometimes, instead of looking at the pictures, I look at you. I watch you looking at them.

-You do? Why do you do that, boy?

-I like how you look at them. What you look like when you do. You smile more than normal. Did you know that, Papa?

-Well. Yeah. Yes, boy, I suppose I did know that.

-Also, maybe I like looking because I hardly recognize myself in those old pictures.

-Really?

-You’re surprised, Papa?

-No, boy. I guess not. I hardly recognize you in those early pictures either. I don’t know why it should be any different for you….

-Can we pick one?

-Sure. But you pick this one, okay? Not me. I’ll pick next time.

-Okay, Papa.

-Which one do you want, boy? An early one?

-Yeah. From that first week. When we all stayed in that cold room. When I didn’t really know you or Mummy.

-You know, we didn’t really know you either, boy.

-Now? Do you know me now?

-Hmmm. Yeah. Yeah, I do. We do, Mummy and me.

-Will you know me better next week?

-Yes. I will. We will. But you’ll never be the same as you are right now. You’ll always be changing. Every day. You’ll always be different, boy. Until. Well….

-Until what, Papa?

-Nevermind. You’ll always be changing. That’s all. And we’ll watch, delighted.

-Mummy and you?

-Yes. Mummy and me….

-Here! This one!

-Really? This one? Why?

-You talk about reflecting a lot, Papa. A lot. And in this one, I’m reflecting!

-That’s not exactly what I…. Yes. Yes, boy. You are.

-Do you like my reflection, Papa? Does it look like me? Does it?