Reflections: Age Five

I am looking down at my red sneakers as I walk with my dad.

I love these shoes.

Red is my favorite color, and going on errands with my dad is my favorite thing. Especially this errand. He is holding my hand in his big, warm hand as we cross the parking lot to the store.

He opens the door and the bell jangles as we pass through to the back and magically walk into winter. The walk-in fridge is 50 degrees cooler than the rest of the store and it's pretty amazing to me.

I see my breath on the air, and I try to blow smoke rings like my aunt does
with her Marlboros, but I am unsuccessful. My dad lets go of my hand to pull down
a couple cases of beer and I lag behind, following him out.

At the cash register, I spy Wonder Woman's pretty head on a slim red Pez body.

A vision of fabulousness! My dad pulls one out of the box and pays for it with the beer
without my even having to ask.

-Gigi 04.26.04