The Theme: A Mother/ Daughter moment: (2008, Aix en Provence)
The Stage: The daughter's (Chelsea) studio.
First Scene: The Coffee Machine
Daughter shows Mother her new coffee machine. Mother does not like coffee, but drinks it to be with daughter who does. Conversation full and delicious. Daughter tells Mother about the coffee machine.
Second Scene: Conversation and Coffee
Daughter: Tells Mother how she got the coffee machine and about the friend who gave it to her.
-Daughter chatters about the coffee machine, then comes back to original subject matter: "…Even though he doesn't drink coffee he knows I do and thought I would enjoy it. Isn't that sweet?"
Mother: Zeros in on one word and one word only: "He."
Scene Three:
Mother: Who is wide-eyed, curious, and with an agenda…wants to know about that one word…"He."
Mother's First Line: "I'll have one spoon of sugar please and (as the Mother stirs the sugar into her coffee,) …is the friend who gave you the coffee machine a Boyfriend, or just a boy who is a friend?"
Daughter (who drinks her coffee straight black) says: A boy who is a friend.
Mother: Really?
Last Scene:
Daughter: Tells Mother that the boy and her are very best friends. How they study together. How he helps her since he is brilliant in Math, and that she helps him with his English.
Daughter continues deeper: "One evening while we were doing homework," she tells her Mother, "We both looked up at the same time, our faces were this close (daughter puts her face right up to her Mother's face…Mother wants to grab her daughter and kiss her like a baby and never let her go…but Mother resists and tries not to cry.) we leaned into kiss but pulled back instantly."
Mother surprised and gasps, "Why? Why didn't you kiss each other?"
Daughter: Explains to Mother that it would change everything and that they value their friendship too much to risk losing it over being boyfriend and girlfriend with each other.
Mother: Scratches head, though understands and drinks the coffee that isn't that bad after all.
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Chelsea and Mr. Espresso have been together since 2008. They are both in Paris now. Mr. Espresso graduated (as Chelsea with a masters in business) and has his first job. Last week he sent me a photo on FACEBOOK asking what shoes would look better with his new suit.
I was tickled happy that he asked my advice.
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