Conversation with Bea (Part 2)

The most interesting information comes from children, for they tell all they know and then stop. – Mark Twain

Observant and sometimes a critique, she’ll ask me things that may seems odd to her. Last Ramadan, during Eid, we were sitting on a bench inside a mall while waiting for her mother who was busy looking for “sales”. A South Asian family passed by dressed in all their “fineries” and Bea whispered to me, pointing with her lips at a girl about her age.

Bea: Daddy, why is she dressed like that?

Me : Maybe she’s a princess and she’s going to a dance.

Bea: No. She’s a fairy without wings. Hinde pa Halloween, di ba, Daddy?

Without trying, she can embarrass you in public. An Arab lady passed by and Bea exclaimed:

Bea: Look Daddy oh, she draw “pencils” on her hand.

Me : That’s a henna hand decoration, anak.

Bea: She better wash hand. It’s DIRTY!

You should read between the lines when talking to Bea. A couple of weeks ago I caught her picking her nose while we’re watching TV.

Me : What are you doing?

Bea: Nothing.

Me : Are you eating “kulangot”?

Bea: (Indignantly) NO… I’m making a ball!

Once we’re looking for our friend’s flat and all I got was a sketched map for direction. We’re going in circle and we were again on a fork road we passed by earlier when Bea happened to read a street sign:

Bea: Daddy look! Maather Street! Turn left!

Me : Ay, oo nga. Sorry, anak, I didn’t see the sign kasi.

Bea: Buti na lang I’m here, kung hindi, we’re lost again.

I can’t figure out if it’s a jest or sympathy because with her lopped-sided smile she added: “Don’t worry Daddy. When I’m big, I’ll buy you glasses.”

Her mother always makes it a point Bea prays before she goes to sleep. Mommy taught her how to pray but she doesn’t like it. It’s lengthy because it includes “Our Father” and “Hail Mary” which she hates to memorize. So she makes her own “version” which varies from time to time. It goes something like this:

In the name of the Father and the Mother and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Papa God,

Please help my Daddy to be strong all the time.

Please help my Daddy in his driving so he won’t always say “gago”.

Please help me in my studies and in my test in the morning and in the afternoon so Mommy is always happy.

Please help Mommy clean the kitchen and wash our clothes and also help Mommy in her cooking.

Thank you.

Goodnight Papa God, goodnight Mama Mary and to my Dear Guardian Angel.

Amen.