Chapter 6 - AVA ASKED IF SHE WAS UGLYThe hardest moment came that night.
We stayed at my sister’s house.
Ava refused to look in the mirror.
I sat beside her on the bed.
“Can I see?”
She covered the shaved section.
“No.”
“That’s okay.”
She looked at me.
“Was Vanessa right?”
“About what?”
“That I would ruin the pictures.”
My throat closed.
“No.”
“Then why did she cut it?”
Children ask direct questions.
They deserve direct answers.
“Because Vanessa was angry about feelings that belonged to her.”
Ava frowned.
“My hair made her angry?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because it reminded her of Mommy.”
She looked down.
“Is that bad?”
“No.”
I touched her hand.
“Nothing about looking like your mother is bad.”
“Do I look ugly now?”
I felt tears rise.
“No.”
Then I stopped.
That answer was true but incomplete.
I didn’t want to teach her beauty was the only issue.
“What she did would be wrong even if you looked silly afterward.”
Ava looked at me.
“Why?”
“Because your body belongs to you.”
“Hair too?”
“Yes.”
“Even if it grows back?”
“Even then.”
She nodded.
Then:
“You hit Vanessa.”
There it was.
“Yes.”
“Was that bad?”
I swallowed.
“Yes.”
“But she hurt me.”
“Yes.”
“Then why bad?”
“Because I was angry and I used my hand instead of stopping myself.”
She thought.
“Are you in trouble?”
“I’ll take responsibility if there are consequences.”
She nodded.
Good.
May you like
Children notice hypocrisy faster than adults.
I would not teach bodily autonomy by pretending mine excused violating someone else’s.
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