Only in Brooklyn

Scene: playground in Ditmas Park, Brooklyn.

Thea, twenty-seven months, is playing with Iman, a four-year-old with a wild mass of brown hair. They run under the jungle gym to hide. I get up to investigate, after noticing Iman placing long strips of bark on the ground next to Thea. I’m hoping she doesn’t intend for Thea to eat them.

ME: What are you girls doing?

IMAN: We’re playing the belly game. We need privacy.

THEA: Go away, mom. We’re playing.

I step back, curious. Thea lies down. Iman pulls up Thea’s shirt, exposing her naval. Iman takes a piece of bark and measures Thea’s belly.

Iman’s mother walks up to me, and explains she’s a midwife.

IMAN’S MOM: Oh, it’s okay. Iman’s pretending to measure your daughter’s fundal height. (Pause.) Is Thea pretending to give birth now?

• No Responses
• Comment Feeds