I am one-third of the way through my first cup of coffee when Jane announces: "Cinderella isn't real."
"No. She's just a story."
"When I turn five, I want to visit Cinderella's castle."
When I hear "I want," I think: Run Default Child Deferral Module #244: "We'll see."
I don't think anymore. I just reflexively "parent." Jane calls this "mommying."
"But she's not real."
"Who's not real?" The coffee is slow to kick in this morning.
"Cinderella!"
"Oh! Of course. I guess if she's not real, her castle isn't either."
"No." Jane twirls her hair. "That gives me an idea."
"Yes?"
"It starts with Once upon a time..."
