“What makes this place so special to you?”
“I don’t KNOW!” clicking the red, black and gold beads as she shakes her head in confusion. “It makes me feel happy all over.”

So precious was her simple explanation.

“Are you Jamaican?”
“No, sweetie, I’m not.”
“I sometimes wish I was a Jamaican Princess so I can live here.”
I laughed out loud and told her I had the same wish on my list.
“But…you …you are um…bro…um tan! You’re tan. Yeah, light brown so you can tell people you are Jamaican and they would believe you. Pretend like a fairy tale.”
“Maybe, but I would know and I wouldn’t feel good about myself inside. But I’m okay with being plain old American because, I’m like you, I’m just happy I can come here.”
“Pardon me.” She injects “but I have to get in THAT water.”



She takes a few steps towards the water then turn to me..”Is the water cold???”
“No, not really.”