Sposare

La Mano di Daniele

My girl is the most open at bedtime, in the time between the last story and the moment we all doze off into our dreams, snuggled together in our larger-than-life wrought iron family bed. She'll ramble on about her day in a way I hope for when I interrogate her during the drive home or at the table over pasta as she occupies her reserved space in the bright red chair. At those times she refuses my requests, literally tells me "Nothing!" in response to the age-old "What did you do today?"

Good gracious, she's four!

However, in the protection of the "cozy bed" (her words, not mine) and only after the lamp is darkened, she shares bits of her otherwise guarded thoughts and feelings, usually involving her school day. My sister once told me that if it weren't for bathtime, she'd have no idea of her son's daily preschool activities from his perspective. He'd belt out multiple verses of songs unknown to her or show off his newly acquired knowledge of letters and numbers, always in the comfort of a warm bath. I have come to look forward to this time much as she once did.

A recent conversation in the cozy bed went like this:

Maddy: What does risposare mean, Daddy?

Mr. Duncan: Risposare? Do you mean risposta? Or rispondere?

Maddy: No, I said risposare. It's what a boy and girl do, but you can't do it with your Daddy. It's what Elena and Francesco do because Francesco likes Elena. Risposare.

Mr. Duncan: You mean, sposare. They get married. Well, you can marry Francesco, too.

Maddy: No way. He is five, like Elena.

Mr. Duncan then spurts off a list of boys we all know. He lobbies strongly for classmate GioGio, whose father has been spotted behind the wheel of a yellow Lamborghini. I root for Lucas and nearly convince her with the offer of Julia as a sister -- a package deal. It turns out that none will do. Too old, too short, too mean, too silly, too. . .

Maddy: I really just want to marry you, Daddy.

Mr. Duncan lets her know that it just won't be possible; some other boy (or girl -- which she immediately rejects) will one day have to do. She initially refuses this answer, but after a bit of back and forth between the two, she relents.

Clearly unsettled by the reality, she thinks a bit and decides that it'll have to be Daniele because he is a "cute little baby." We hadn't offered up Daniele as a possibility, being that he is not yet a year old. Daniele is the baby of the neighbor that Maddy deemed "handsome" back in late October when she first mentioned the word "marry" to us.

It seems that my almost five-year-old baby girl is developing her taste in males. . .not sure how much I like that, no matter how cute and handsome Daniele and his papa seem to be.