like dolls

in the foyer children play and fight over who is older. they dress like dolls and tease the baby learning how to talk. she stumbles round the couches in socks as the princesses parade behind with taunts: ‘hello baby’, ‘little baby’, ‘what a clever baby!’ she smiles and they laugh but the mockery is wasted here. the baby loves her new friends and leads them round the tables to a couch. I sit and read a play about big questions. my brother said I’d like it and though I do I’m far from focus or knowing what the story wants to tell me. the baby asks about the bottle at my feet. I smile and say hello before the father saves her from the stranger and his book. ‘the man is busy; don’t interrupt his reading’. she protests over his shoulder. I close the book to wave goodbye.