Little Negligences

"Mum, do you think if I tried hard… like, really hard… do you think I could be an actor?"

“What’s that?”

“Could I be an actor? If I worked hard for it?”

"Uh, yeah, of course you could be, dear. Where’s my bag gone?”

"You left it on the washing machine. Do you really think so?”

“Think … what …? Oh. Of course. You can be anything you want to be.”

"Miss Nielson says that, too, but I don't know how it works. Like, what about the kids who don’t have money to go to university and stuff. They can’t be anything, can they? But Miss Nielson says everyone can be anything they want.”

“Eric - you’re not a poor kid. You can do anything, sweetie. Just believe - oh my goodness, the time, I have to go. Look at me, I’m a mess and I’ve got a meeting in an hour. I’ll have to tidy up on the train. I just can’t find my earrings.”

“Which ones?”

“The ones your dad bought me for my birthday, with the curved hooks and little pearls.”

“You lost them at the beach a couple of months ago, Mum.”

“Oh that’s right, what a shame. Well, the plain gold rings will have to do. I’ve got my hairbrush and touch up kit and mints in my bag … are you ready for school? Eric! You’ve got jam all over your shirt. Can you just eat like an ordinary eleven year old instead of giving half your meal to your clothes or the table?”

“I’ll just wear my jacket on top. It’ll be fine. Mum, barely anyone gets to be an astronaut. Every kid wants to be an astronaut. So how come it’s impossible to actually be one? I mean -”

“You’re not still thinking about that, are you? Listen, I’m going to work, sweetheart. I didn’t have time to pack your lunch so you’ll just have to buy something from the canteen - ten dollars enough? - alright, I’m already late. We’ll talk about this later, okay?”

“But you’re working a late shift, right? So, later … like when?”

“Honey, I mean it, I’m running late. We’ll find time. Yeah? See you, I love you, be good today.”