Rachel's Other Life, Part 2

It's the end of a very frustrating week, and to top it off I got stuck in traffic on the way home. "I've GOT to go bike-riding when I get home, even if I end up riding in the dark," I barked at Drew on the phone. Luckily I got home just as the sun was setting, hopped into my biking clothes, and took a nice, long ride through the city. Portland is beautiful on a warm night, with the lights all twinkly, the couples eating dinner outside and fellow bikers passing me on their tricked-out vehicles. It was too hot to make lamb and pilaf, so we arranged for me to meet Drew and Rachel at the Belmont Food Carts, and we'd go to Ben & Jerry's. When I got to the food carts, though, I saw that Rachel had already eaten dinner and part of a passionfruit sorbet, so I grabbed a falafel sandwich and sat down next to Drew.

"Sit next to ME, Mommy!" Rachel exclaimed, and throughout dinner she kept leaning her body against my arm.

She also informed us that at her other house she has a pig named Jacob, a dog named...Jacob, and a kitty named Belfort. (I don't know where she got 'Belfort,' but I think it's absolutely brilliant. I'm also optimistic that she may be losing her fear of animals).

"Some kids have an imaginary friend, Rachel has an imaginary life," Drew observed the other day.

***

One not-so-great thing that happened tonight was when Drew got a fudgsicle from one of the food carts (they're homemade and stunningly delicious), he made clear it was for all of us. He finished my falafel sandwich while I started on the dessert, and then Rachel asked to hold the fudgsicle. Then when I asked for more bites and Drew chimed in, she didn't want to give it up. She started fussing and crying.

We threatened to take her home if she she continued, and she really did make an effort to control herself -- to the point that when part of the fudgsicle fell to the ground, she said cheerfully, "that's OK!" Drew told her firmly that she couldn't be a greedy little girl and that she had to share her dessert with Mommy and Daddy, just like we share food and provide other things for her. "I need a cuddle," she said, looking at me, and I took her in my arms. Then she reached out to Drew and I whispered, "say you're sorry!"

"Sorry, Daddy," she said tearfully.

"Will you ty to do better next time, OK?" he said gently. "Yes," she hiccuped, and all was well.