Chapter 14
Marcella asked to see Nell after one year.
Nell said no.
Six months later?
Still no.
Then one day she asked:
“Is Marcella still pretty?”
Children are mysterious.
“Yes.”
“Still mean?”
“People can change.”
“Did she?”
“I don’t know.”
Good answer.
Nell eventually agreed to a short meeting in a public garden.
I stayed nearby.
Marcella brought no camera.
Important.
No gift either.
Better.
Nell sat across from her.
First question:
“Why you put picture instead of me?”
Marcella cried almost immediately.
“Because pictures did what I wanted.”
Nell frowned.
“I don’t.”
“No.”
Marcella smiled sadly.
“You don’t.”
Then:
“Was I bad?”
“No.”
“Then why hide?”
“Because I cared too much about everyone thinking I was good.”
Nell considered.
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“No.”
Adults spend fortunes learning what children identify for free.
At the end Marcella asked:
“Can I hug you?”
Nell shook her head.
“No.”
Marcella nodded.
No bargaining.
May you like
That was the best thing she did all meeting.
Respect the real child even when the answer is not photogenic.
