Page 67 of The Wedding Toast
She watched her run around with Sir Spots-a-Lot for a while, then smiled, realizing that she needed to stop calling him that.His real name was Scooter.Zia stopped and came back to her when she heard her laugh.
"Are you okay?"
"I am," said Callie."Are you?"
"I'm fine."She tilted her head to the side."You don't mind me, do you?"
Callie frowned."Of course not, I think you're awesome.Why would you ask that?"
Zia shrugged."Some people think I'm weird, you know."
Callie leaned in closer."Some people think I'm weird too.Do you want to know what I say?"
Zia came right up to her and rested her little hands on Callie's knees."Yes, whatdoyou say?"
Callie had to think for a moment.She could hardly tell the kid to sayscrew ‘em.Instead, she went with, "I say it doesn't matter what people think of you."She tapped Zia's nose."You know who you are.You know you're awesome.And your mom knows.And that's all that matters."
The kid didn't look convinced.
"I know you're awesome, too," Callie added.
That made Zia smile."I think you're awesome."She took hold of Callie's hand, running her fingers over the rough skin and bits of glaze that still stuck around her nails."You're a maker, aren't you?"
"I guess I am," said Callie.
The little girl reached out and touched the medallion that hung around Callie's neck.It was the head of a dandelion, carefully pressed in clay and glazed."You’re like my mom.You make flowers do things they weren't meant to."
Callie had to laugh at that."I guess I do, but I don't make them do anything they don't want to."
Zia's eyes lit up."That's good."
"I think so."
"Do you think I'm weird?"
Callie couldn't help it.She held her arms out, and when Zia climbed up onto her lap, she wrapped them around her."I don't think you're weird, no.”
“But I'm not like other people."
Callie thought for a moment."Do you think the moon's weird?"
Zia frowned up at her."No.Why would I?"
"Because when everything else is dark, the moon shines bright.It's not like everything else, but that doesn't make it weird."
Zia shook her head slowly, as if giving the point serious consideration."The moon doesn't do what everyone else does," she said eventually.
Callie shook her head."It does not.But you don't think it's weird for shining at nighttime, do you?"
Zia held her gaze as she whispered, "That's the whole point of the moon."
Callie tapped the tip of her nose."Exactly, my little friend.Exactly."She closed her eyes when Zia wrapped her wiry arms around her neck and hugged her tight.
"Will you be my friend, Lady Sunshine?"
Callie held her a little closer."I already am."
"Forever?"
