“Mummy,” says Anna, “Look! They have hot cross buns.”
“Oh yes, would you like one?”
“No thank you.”
“Oh.” I’m a bit puzzled. “OK.”
“Emily likes them,” Anna says, almost like she’s trying to cheer me up. And she has. I am overwhelmed that she has thought of her sister and wanted to do something for her that she is sure her sister would like. .
“That’s so kind of you to think of your sister, Anna. You’re right Emily does like them, let’s her one.”
“But then what can I have?” Anna immediately wails. I stutter about…
“It’s not fair if she has a hot cross bun and I don’t get anything!” The volume cranked up.
“Sorry, Anna, I thought you were pointing out the hot cross buns because you wanted to get Emily one.”
“Noooooo! I pointed them out because it’s Christmas and hot cross buns are for Easter.”
“Oh OK.”
“And because I knew that if Emily got one you’d have to get something for me,” she said making eye contact only with various forms of flour, sugar, butter and colouring in the bakery window.
“Check mate,” I sign before drawing up all my energy for whatever decision I was going to make next.
Triple Trouble Tribe 