From a Distance

Whatever You Want

"Riley, it's time for dinner," you yell out into the hallway of your apartment building.

You and Riley had met another little girl named Maya on your way back from a trip to the supermarket. The little girl had blonde hair and the bluest eyes you'd ever seen. It turns out she lives in the same building, just moved in today.

Naturally, Riley begged you to let her play with Maya. You agreed on the condition that Riley come when you call her for dinner. Riley nodded and ran off down the hallway with her new friend, wide smiles on both of their faces.

You got to work on the chicken noodle soup you prepared to make. You unpacked all of your groceries and followed your mother-in-law's secret recipe. An hour passed and now you have a pot full of soup and a pleasant aroma wafting through the apartment.

"Riley, dinner," you yell again.

Riley and Maya come running to the door giggling.

"Maya, it was nice meeting you but Riley has to eat dinner now," you tell the young blonde.

"Okay," she says hugging your daughter goodbye. "Bye, Riley."

"Wait!" Riley shouts. "Mommy, can Maya eat with us?" she asks.

You smile at Riley for her thoughtfulness.

"If Maya's parents let her, then she is welcome to eat with us," you tell Riley.

"Yay," Maya and Riley both say excitedly.

Your husband Cory puts your one-year-old son Auggie in his highchair before sitting in his own seat at the head of the table.

Riley takes her seat and Maya sits in the seat right next to hers. You chuckle to yourself a little bit at Maya's ambition.

"Maya, sweetie, you have to ask your parents if you can eat with us," you tell her. "I don't want them to think I kidnapped you or something," you joke.

"My mother is okay with me being here," Maya says.

"How does she know you're here?" you ask. "You haven't asked her yet."

"She said I could stay out until she calls me back to my apartment," Maya answers.

"What time was that at?" you ask her.

"Just after breakfast," Maya says still looking for the exact time. "Just after eight o'clock this morning, I think."

"Did you eat lunch?" you ask concerned.

"No, I wasn't really hungry though," she responds.

You quickly make up two bowls of soup and set it before the girls.

"Maya, I think your mommy was so busy moving in that she lost track of time and forgot to come get you. What apartment do you live in?" you ask, hoping the six-year-old knows.

"6c," she answers in between spoonfuls of soup.

You dial the number to apartment 6c, praying that she has the right apartment number.

A very tired-sounding woman answers the phone on the third ring.

"Hello?" the voice asks.

"Hi, I'm Topanga Matthews. I live in apartment 4a, I'm one of your neighbors," you speak into the phone trying to sound as friendly as possible. "Your daughter, Maya, is having dinner with me and my daughter who's the same age."

"Oh my gosh," the woman on the other line exclaims. "I am so sorry, I'll come get her. I'll be right over."

You hear the line go dead and hang your phone back on the wall.

Mere minutes later, the doorbell rings. You open the door to see a woman with blonde hair who looks to be in her early twenties.

"Hi, I'm Katy," the woman greets. "I'm Maya's mother."

"Hi, I'm Topanga," you say shaking her hand.

"I am so sorry. We just moved into the building and I somehow forgot Maya was running all over the building," she apologizes.

"It's no problem, Katy," you assure the young mother. "The girls are just finishing their soup."

"Hi, mom," Maya says hugging her mom hello.

"Did you have fun, Baby girl?" Katy asks.

"Yeah," she says smiling.

"Who is your new friend?"

"This is Riley," Maya answers.

"Ok, thank Riley and her mom for having you, we have to go home now."

"Thank you, Riley. Thank you, Riley's mom," the young girl says.

"You can call me Mrs. Matthews," you tell her.

"Thank you, Mrs. Matthews," she says.

"Thank you, Topanga," Katy says as they walk out the door.

"Maya, are we best friends?" Riley asks them as they're halfway out the door.

"Whatever you want," Maya says before going home, making Riley smile a smile that doesn't leave her face even as you tuck her into bed.

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