Ask First

Nila’s hand wants to touch everything.

It wants to touch the dog. It wants to touch the baby’s foot. It wants to touch Nani’s glasses, and the cat.

“Ask first,” says Ma.

So Nila asks. Every time.

“Please?” says Nila to the dog.

The dog puts his whole nose in her hand.

That means yes.

So Nila touches the dog. His ears are warm and floppy, like two little pancakes.

“Please?” says Nila to the baby.

The baby has no words at all. But the baby’s foot comes up, and up, and lands in Nila’s hand.

That means yes.

One toe. Then two toes. Then all of them.

“Please?” says Nila to Nani.

Nani takes off her glasses and puts them into Nila’s hand.

That means yes.

The world through Nani’s glasses is very big and very wobbly. Nila gives them back.

“Please?” says Nila to the cat.

The cat looks at Nila.

The cat stands up.

The cat walks away, all the way to the sunny bit by the door, and sits down with her back to everybody.

That means no.

So Nila does not touch the cat.

Nila sits down on the floor. She puts her hand out flat, like a plate. And she waits.

The dog comes back. The baby’s foot comes back. Nani’s hand comes back.

And Nila’s hand stays out. Flat, and open, in the warm bit by the door.

The cat looks at it.

The cat thinks about it.