Nefretiri
"Candy!" I squealed, pointing to the cotton candy machines we passed. Then, turning to my mother, I repeated the word in French. "Bonbon!"
"Yes!" my mother laughed, holding my hand tightly as we wandered the carnival. "And what's that?"
She pointed at the balloons a clown was handing out to the children, making funny faces and laughing. Yet, I stopped and frowned at the man, the enthusiasm I had just had disappearing as I looked past the makeup and smiles. He was very sad. Something weighed heavily on him, but I was too young to understand. All I knew at two was that he was wearing a mask to hide it, and I didn't like it.
Before my mother could stop me, I ran over to him and joined the other families who wanted balloons.
"Neffy!" Maddy caught up to me, grabbing my hand with a panicked scowl. "You don't run off, Chachorra. You could get lost."
"Sad," I pointed to the man, my own feelings echoing his. "Hurt."
