Halloween had come and gone. Yet princess dresses were still being worn. A bat costume didn’t make it to the streets for trick or treat. Now relegated to the dress-up collection it is frequently selected.
Just the two of us early on a recent Saturday morning. Pajamas still on as Belle had awoken just moments earlier. The day had officially begun, early. So had the world of pretend. The bat costume already in play. Fitting like it was tailor made. Floor-length with wings attached. A stiff black mask in place. Resting on a small button nose. Innocent brown eyes sparkled, belief.
The rain fell prohibitively hard outside. Again. Indoor options required that we employ our imagination. Tea parties had always been a favorite of ours. Requested by me and enthusiastically received by my granddaughter. The charming little bat reached for my hand as we made our way to the playroom.
Belle’s room, bathed in a low gray light. Windows surround. A play kitchen on one wall, match box cars and playdough help fill the space. We sit comfortably on a white plush rug. Legs crossed one over the other. I located the tea set stored in its case.
The teapot, white plastic with delicate pink flowers. Victorian in style. A matching creamer too. Cups, plates and two dainty pink spoons. Deep in her imagination sat a 3-year-old. Me, across from her basking in the glow of enchanted moments.
A proper tea it was complete with biscuits and giggles. We sipped, chatted, and sipped some more. A tea party worthy of the Mad Hatter and the March Hare. I wanted to hold onto each moment as tightly as Belle held her teacup.
“Mad Hatter: Would you like a little more tea? Alice: Well, I haven’t had any yet, so I can’t very well take more. March Hare: Ah, you mean you can’t very well take less. Mad Hatter: Yes. You can always take more than nothing.” – Lewis Carroll
