« The Reading Project: Book 6 | Main | The Reading Project: Book 7 »

Proof that you don't have to be a woman in order to be a Mother Superior.

The Place: The Thomas the Train table at the Barnes & Noble

The Time: Just before lunch, a.k.a., the Toddler Hour

Sam and another little boy are contentedly playing with the trains, when a tiny baby girl wobbles over on unsteady legs. Her father follows close behind, gabbling at her in what sounds like Spanglish.

Random Mom: Is that Spanish you're speaking to her?

Smug Father: [smugly] Portuguese. Isabella’s fluent in Portuguese.

He continues to gabble at her, sounding not at all fluent himself.

Random Mom: Wow, that’s impressive. So she’s bilingual?

Smug Father: [puffing up like a blowfish] Yes. Actually, she’s trilingual. English, French and Portuguese. And she signs.

At which point, baby Isabella lets out an incoherent squawk, and begins to babble in baby-speak. Goo-goo, gah-gah, and so forth.

Smug Father: [only slightly chagrined] Well. She doesn’t say much yet. But her comprehension is really incredibly high.

Posted 09 April 2006 at 07:36 PM