Ember started saying “mama” yesterday. Patrick says it wasn’t quite “mama” because babies cannot make the connection between their sounds and words yet, but she looked right at me when she said it. There’s intelligence there. She knows who her mother is. So I promptly fed her to reward that connection all the more.
I told Jackie Crenshaw that you were only improving your skills in Skymar, so she’s even more excited about the possibility of you joining her at her theater. Not only would you be in a position to choose all those productions and organize things, but you’d be near home and learn business from a woman who has effectively run one for decades. I really don’t see how you could find something more suitable to your dreams, and I’d imagine she’d let you travel during the off-season all you like. Isn’t there some travel in theater work?
Oh dear, I need to go. Patrick just walked in carrying two babies covered in something I refuse to describe. Poor man! He really has the most patience in all the world.
Love,
Josephine
From: Penelope Edgewood
To: Josephine Martin, Luke Edgewood, Izzy Edgewood
Date: September4
Subject: What????
The babies are talking??!!
And I’m missing it!!
This requires video footage, Josephine, as well as a live video chat very soon. I’ve always heard that thepsound is one of the earliest and easiest to say, so I can help them get an early start on my name! And of course, they can see me if we do a video call!! We simply can’t have them forgetting me. I’m their aunt. Surely they’ll remember. I’m the one who wears the bright-colored clothing!
Penelope
Text from Luke to Penelope:Babies can’t talk at two months old, Penny-girl. No matter what Josephine or social media tells you. Don’t forget that I dated a speech therapist four years ago. She tried to diagnose every kid we ever heard, even the ones in movies.
Penelope:I don’t know if I would trust the judgment of a woman who felt compelled to match her lipstick, nail polish, and jewelry on a regular basis. I’m so glad that relationship didn’t last long. What would she have done on her wedding day?
From: Penelope Edgewood
To: Izzy Edgewood, Luke Edgewood
Date: September5
Subject: I am no longer confident in confidence alone
I’m writing a quick note before I get to work. Matt is walking Iris into school as I wait in his car, so I have only a few minutes, but I just had to share to prove that I AM trying to overcome my bicycle riding fear. However, I’m afraid I had a setback today.
I got ready early for Matt to “collect” me for the drive to work so I could test my skills before he came. You see, the driveway outside my cottage dips down a little hill as it leads to the main road. It didn’t seem like abighill, so I thought I’d use gravity to gain my momentum and help with balance. It worked yesterday, right? And THEN, Matt would pass me on his way to pick me up and witness my extraordinary bravery and skill firsthand. So... I placed my purse in the little basket, made sure to wear the most adorable Converse you could imagine (they’re red), and proceeded to push off from the top of the hill. Just so you know, I also started singing “Journey to the Past” in high anticipation of overcoming my tragic bicycling backstory in one triumphant moment.
Unfortunately, Matt’s car came into view just as I wobbled over the lip of the hill. Gravity really is quite dangerous and I think the hill must have grown, because when you look down it from the seat of a bicycle, it looked a lot different from when I was just standing in my red Converse on solid ground.
I suppose I was distracted. That’s the only excuse I can make for what happened next.
I lost control of the pedals! I would blame the shoes, but they were Converse, so that makes no sense! But there I was, careening toward a little creek at the bottom of the hill, my legs out on either side of the bicycle, and I later found out I’d lost my hat. I’m not sure what would have happened if Matt hadn’t stopped the car and run after me to catch the bike before I ran into a tree. It would have been almost romantic if he hadn’t lectured me on bicycle safety for a good ten minutes afterward.
If only he could have seen how very brave I was trying to be, I think he would have been much nicer about everything.
At any rate, I felt encouraged because I kept my balance all the way down the hill. The only things I need to work on now are keeping my feet on the pedals and steering.
Penelope
PS: I do feel a little bad, though. After the bicycle fiasco, Matt asked to use the restroom in the cottage before we left for work. When he came out, it looked like he’d been crying. Or at least his eyes were red, and he’d developed a terrible cough. Every time I tried to justify my actions, he’d start coughing again. Wait! Do you think he was LAUGHING???? Why would he be laughing? I could have destroyed that bicycle!
PPS: Iris was exceedingly proud of me.
From: Izzy Edgewood