Tivali

Dinner with Orli

After Orli left we went to a coffee shop for lunch and then to the grocery store to pick up dinner. By the time we got back it was time to go pick Tali up from the bus. Tony volunteered to go get her while I unpacked the groceries.

They got back just as I finished putting the last thing away.

"Tali!" I say excitedly "איך עבר עליך היום?" (How was your day?)

She barely looks up at me and continues walking past me and to her room.

"What happened?" I ask Tony as soon as I hear her door close.

He shakes his head.

"I have no idea. She's been like that since she got off the bus."

"I'll go talk to her." I tell him and he nods.

I quietly walk to her room and it sounds like she is...crying? What happened? She seemed so happy this morning.

"Tali?" I ask concerned while I knock on the door.

"I'm busy." She says quickly. "I have to do homework. Come back later." She tells me and then I hear the door lock.

"Is everything ok?" I ask calmly

"Yes Ima. j'ai juste des devoirs." (I just have homework) She says and I can hear her voice catch like she is trying not to cry.

"Ok. Si vous avez besoin de moi, je suis là." (If you need me I'm here.)

I leave and find Tony watching tv. I sit in one the chairs and we watch for a while Until about 6:15pm when Tony remembers he has to start dinner.

He leaves and I figure that I should go check on Tali. Neither of us have seen her since she got back.

"Tali?" I call as I come down the hall.

"Yes Ima?" She replies and it sounds like she is in her playroom.

"Is everything ok?" I ask once I get there.

She is sitting on the floor surrounded by various toys.

"Yes." She says with a smile.

Tali, אהובי"(my love) I say sitting on the floor next to her. "You seemed pretty upset when you came home. Are you sure everything is ok?"

"I'm fine Ima." She without looking at me and clearly lying.

She kind of reminds me of myself. Not wanting help and wanting to deal with it herself. Not that it's a trait I want her to have gotten from me.

"Ok. Well I just want you to know that if anything is ever wrong you can always come to me." I tell her but I'm not even sure she heard me.

She has gone back to focusing on her toys.

"Tali?" I ask trying to get her attention back.

She looks up at me curious.

"We have a guest coming for dinner tonight." She nods but her expression is still full of curiosity. "Do you remember Li?" I ask using the nickname Tali gave her when she was young.

She nods her head which surprises me.

"She brought me to Abba." I nod my head not really sure what to say.

I sit and watch her play for a few minutes and she hands me one of her toys silently asking me to play with her. I gently take it from her and she smiles which makes me smile.

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I hear a knock on the door and Tali gets up from the couch and runs over excitedly. I laugh and follow her.