“Does this mean we can go get lunch now?” Tamara asked her mother as the pair exited the building. Cyra smiled down at her youngest and nodded her head, reaching for the girl’s hand. “Oui. And because you got such a glowing review from the doctor..” Tammy’s eyes were wide with excitement as she waited to hear those magic little words that made going to the otherwise-dreaded dentist’s office worth it. “..you can pick where we go.” Tammy’s reply was loud and near instant, as it always was: “HOT DOGS AND ICE CREAM IN THE PARK!” Her mother laughed, unsurprised by the enthusiastic proclamation. “You’re so very specific.” Which was, of course, a very endearing thing. “Alright, sweetie. Hot dogs and ice cream at the park, it is!”
Mother and daughter made their way down the street and around the corner to one of the entrances to Central Park, while the latter caught the former up to speed on all the latest second grade gossip. Of which, there was a surprising amount of. She was still deep in the midst's of a dramatic retelling of a he-said-she-said playground fight as they neared their luncheon destination. The line to their favorite hot dog cart was shorter than usual, which worked for the pair as both had missed their usual lunch times. “How many do you want today, sweetie?” Tammy considered the question, and her own empty stomach. “Does he still have the big ones?” “Mhm. Looks like it.” “Probably just one then. To leave room for more ice cream later.” Cyra laughed again and smiled down at her daughter. “Smart thinking, Tams.” For the sake of efficiency, Cyra let go of her daughter’s hand and began digging through her purse so that she could have the payment prepared. Being so preoccupied, she didn’t see the look on her daughter’s face as her wandering eyes took in a new sight and widened. She also didn’t see the wide, toothy grin that spread across her cheeks next, nor the little wave the girl offered the unseen figure.
It was their turn to order, and Cyra politely asked for two of the extra long dogs, with all the fixings- when Tammy’s little voice spoke up again from beside her. “Maman, can we get another one for Mr. Shark too? Please?” Cyra only chuckled and amended the order, adding one more, figuring that she was simply hungrier than she’d let on and was using an imaginary friend to get a second serving. Tammy was still at the age when children pretend to see and talk and play with people that aren’t really there, and though her imaginary friends were beginning to dwindle in number and frequency, there was still a lively cast that the de León family was accustomed to. Cyra handed two of the hotdogs to her daughter, keeping one for herself. “Mr. Shark is new, what’s his story?” “I don’t know.” Tammy said with an air of excitement. “Let’s go find out!” And with that, the youngest de León took off towards the park’s entrance, her bewildered mother calling after her “Tamara!”