#6

Lilly and Priscilla were starting to get a little cranky. It was time for everyone to eat lunch and take a nap. Fortunately, getting off the train, navigating the platform, escalators and turnstiles distracted everyone from grumpiness. While they were discussing the merits of taking a cab, bus or walking the rest of the way, a cab pulled up and solved the dilemma. As they all piled in the with the bags, Lily piped up:

Mami,Today we rode on the bus and an airplane and moving sidewalks and a train and a eslator and a taxi.

Lucy laughed and asked," is there anything you didn't ride?

She wrinkled her brow and pondered. A boat? a donkey? a bike?
Lucy laughed and thought of their transportation book which they read over and over. She was surprised that Lily had left out the howdah and the rickshaw.

Priscilla was growing heavy in Lucy's lap and she hoped it wasn't far. Lunch before a nap would pay off later on. As she was attempting to distract her with what going by the windows, the cab pulled over and they reversed the process:unloading kids, suitcases, and backpacks. As Lucy set 'cilla on the ground,'cilla hugged Lucy's leg,arched her back and whined "llevame mami". Discretion being the better part of valor, Lucy quickly decided this wasn't a battle worth fighting, and picked her up. However, as they reached the second floor, Lucy was winded and had to set her down. cilla. I am so tired. Would you like to have Uncle Phil carry you or would you like to walk?
She thought about it and said "Aunt Tracy carry me". Tracy laughed and reached her arms out.
Lucy sighed and shook her head. Would this child ever get easier? She handed her to Tracy and took Lily's hand to divert her from getting upset from abdicating Tracy to Pricilla. .
She said in Spanish. "Mami is so tired. Will you help me up the steps?" A brief shadow crossed her eyes as she realized she was being manipulated, but she answered "Come Mami. I will help you." Lucy sighed and shook her head again. Would this sweet child always be deferring, always trying to please? And, was she going to foster it? She'd talk to her mom about it later. She still had another flight of stairs to conquer.