The First Draft

“Mom, pick one!”
My son was standing in our kitchen 
with an outstretched arm. 

And in it I could see 
four little white pebbles. 

Although, on closer inspection, 
those weren’t pebbles… 
But tiny pieces of paper, 
folded tightly, 
tightly in. 

“Pick one!
And that’s going to be 
the one squishy you will 
give me before my Birthday.”

He was smiling… 
and being very adamant. 

All my children are Leos. 

If you believe in astrology 
that will immediately tell you 
something about them. 

But if you don’t, 
the thing I’m trying to say is - 
they all have Birthdays 
coming up.

And this year 
we already knew what their 
wish lists contained…
Little stress relief squish toys 
from a shop they follow 
online. 

So of course we ordered them.
And they knew that 
we did. 

They had chosen 
the ones they wanted…
But now my son was 
bargaining. 

Oh, my little rascal. 

“Fine,” 
I finally said. 

And I picked one tiny 
paper pebble out of 
his hand. 

“Apple,” I then read it out loud. 
Indicating the toy he would receive 
before his birthday had come. 

“Hmm…”
He murmured. 
Turning something over 
in his head. 

I could sense 
that this wasn’t the one 
he was hoping 
to get.

But I had picked it… 
So what could he do?
This was his game, afterall, 
that we were playing 
right now. 

“You know what…?”
He said with such certainty,
as if he'd just remembered it.

Still smiling… 
But, oh, so playfully. 

“Actually, 
you have to pick it three times, 
before it counts.”

I couldn't help it.
There was no holding back.

A bubble of laughter 
moved through me 
right out. 

But silently 
I thought to myself…

Please, 
don’t ever grow 
into a serious adult. 

With love,
Elina Janevica

Imagery / From Elina's travels - L'Abbaye des Vaux-de-Cernay, France, 2026 /
Elina & Her Stardust