Chapter 8
Emma developed a strange game afterward.
She pushed dolls over.
Then said:
“She slipped.”
Again.
Again.
“She slipped.”
Sarah heard it once and left the room crying.
I sat with Emma.
“Did the doll slip?”
She smiled.
“No. I pushed.”
There.
Children repeat what adults normalize.
I said:
“Then say that.”
“I pushed.”
“Good.”
No shame.
Just accuracy.
The game changed slowly.
Soon dolls fell because dragons bumped them.
Then because they were “too sleepy.”
May you like
Then stopped falling altogether.
Language became ordinary again.
