Maya; Growing up

&;quot;I like your nails,&;quot; she
says
&;quot;My mum won't let me paint
mine.&;quot;

&;quot;Do you pluck your eyebrows?&;quot;
she asks
&;quot;Can you show me how to curl my
eyelashes?&;quot;

She's 9 years old
going on
25
and she makes me think things
like,
&;quot;Kids! They grow up so
fast.&;quot;

And I wonder,
when did I suddenly
become an adult?

The tv is on
ten minutes into
'Serendipidity'
reminding me I'm still alone.

A Louis
Armstrong song is playing
and Maya starts shimmying and
dancing
like a thirties starlet.

She stops
suddenly
looks at me
&;quot;You know
-&;quot;
she says
&;quot;They call me the drama
queen at school,&;quot;
and starts dancing
again.

And I laugh
and wonder
what it would
take
to become
a child
again.