The mothers gathered at the school gate wore their coats unbuttoned. I took off my scarf and stuffed it in my pocket. The Autumn day felt more like late summer than mid November.
While waiting outside the school I checked out the other women: How they were dressed, listened to what they were chatting about, and wondered if they thought I was a Grandmother waiting for her grandchildren.
Eventually the school children came running out. None of them had on their coats. Quickly their mothers reprimanded them that though it was warm enough to cook an egg (soft boiled) on the sidewalk it was nevertheless November!
The two little ones (my French niece and nephew) I waited for were no different than the others. I too made them put on their coats simply because I could imagine them tripping over them as they walked home.
As we headed home the two of them talked to their little friends. One of the little boys stared at me while I told my nephew, "You do not need to button your jacket, it is too hot."
My niece leaned over whispering to the other little boy, "That is my Aunt, she is an American she doesn't speak French."
Like a tattle tailer I chimmed in, "Hey, I speak French!"
"My Aunt speaks a little," she corrected then added, "but she doesn't understand French."
"Wait a minute! I do too speak French and I understand exactly what you are saying." I said like a school girl defending her turf.
"She doesn't, honestly she doesn't" my niece said as if I wasn't there.
I stopped in the middle of the sidewalk… I said to the little boy, "I do too speak French and I understand what is being said." I guess you could say I needed his approval. "I do too speak French." I whined.
My niece looked at me like I was in big trouble, as if I had spoiled her fun. At that moment it became clear to me, I was her novelty. I was the cool American Aunt. I was her "Show and Tell" item in her bag of tricks.
Because of my bruised tender ego I ruined her fun. "Dommage!" I did not understand French after all.
——————————–
Note:
Photos of my friend's painting in Marcel in Lourmarin.
Leave a Reply