Five-year-old Mia stood on her little step-stool at the edge of the dinner table, wearing her formal pink cardigan, hair combed back into a tight little bun (she insisted on looking the part), hands neatly folded in front of her.
Across from her sat Mr. Evercrest, her father's sharp-suited boss—normally a man who commanded boardrooms with a glance.
Now, he looked mildly terrified.
"Sir," Mia said with the poise of a courtroom attorney. "What do you think of today's politics and stock markets?"
Jay—mid-chew—choked on a dinner roll.
James dropped his fork.
Rose just blinked.
Mr. Evercrest stared at her like she had just asked him to recite the Constitution backward in Elvish.
"Uh... well... I-I suppose the—uh—the fiscal trajectory of—"
"I disagree," Mia interrupted flatly, sliding a crayon-drawn chart across the table. "This model, based on inflation trends and speculative crypto bubbles, suggests a crash in mid-October."
Mr. Evercrest hesitated. "...Crypto... bubbles?"
Rose leaned over to James. "Did... did she just say speculative crypto bubbles?"
James whispered back, "I don't even know what a crypto bubble is."
Jay, mouth still full, mumbled, "She's been watching finance documentaries instead of cartoons again."
Mia tapped her chart. "Additionally, I believe that the current state of political partisanship is directly influencing investor panic, especially among sectors tied to energy and defense."
Silence.
Dead. Silence.
Then Mr. Evercrest slowly nodded, as if trying to survive a very polite shark.
"Y-yes... yes, that is... certainly something to consider."
Mia smiled, pleased.
Then she pulled out a second paper. "Now, I also have thoughts about foreign policy—"
"Nooooope," Jay stood, grabbing her gently by the shoulders and spinning her around. "Time for dessert! Come on, little economist."
"But Jay! I have talking points!"
"You are a talking point!"
Mr. Evercrest turned to James in a daze. "...Your daughter scares me."
James sighed. "Join the club. She once told me my retirement plan was flawed."
"And she was right," Rose added with a sigh, sipping her tea.
From the kitchen, Mia's voice floated out: "Because you forgot to account for inflation and emergencies!"
Jay: "Kid, you are terrifying."
Mia: "Thank you."
