13

Today she is thirteen. Just because she's a teenager doesn't mean that Olivia woke up this morning and was suddenly typical. She's still gloriously Livie.

Every night at bedtime, Olivia goes through a string of questions. They’re usually in the same order and she needs to ask them before she can settle in and go to sleep. They go something like this:

Q: What do you hope I dream of?

A: I hope you dream of swimming with mermaids, dancing with Felice (from Leap), flying around the Eifel Tower with Ladybug and Cat Noir. After you save the world with them, I hope you all go to lunch at their school where you get to hang out with all your friends from school and all of Marinette’s friend. I hope that Adam Goldberg is there along with the Baudelaire children and the Templeton boys (from Boss Baby) and Harry Potter. I hope you guys all eat your lunch and talk and laugh with each other and that you get to see Barry Goldberg running like a weirdo as he’s being chased by chickens trained by Victor.

Q: What do you hope you dream of?

A: I hope I get to dream of watching you do all those things in your dream and that I get to swim with the mermaids with you and watch you talk to all your friends.

Q: What time are you going to wake me up?

A: 6:20

Q: What time will I get downstairs?

A: 6:40

Q: What time are you leaving for work?

A: 7:00

Reply: Cool.

Q: What do you have laid out for me?

A: whatever I have picked out for her as the next day’s outfit. Don’t forget to mention the underwear, bra and socks.

Q: Do you have to go anywhere after work?

A: Yes or no, depending of if I have to go anywhere after work.

Q: Does Lyssie have to go anywhere after school?

A: Yes or no, depending on the day and Lyssie’s work schedule. Wednesdays she has voice lessons, so…

Reply: At least I have Dad, who is always here when I get home.

How grateful am I that she has her dad; that he’s always there when she gets home?

How jealous am I that he gets to be the reliable one, the one who is ALWAYS there when she gets home?