I got on the train this morning ready to go to work. As soon as I stepped onto the subway car, a little girl looked at me straight in the eyes. She was wearing pink flower earrings.

“Your earrings are really pretty!” I said “Where did you get them?”

“They’re stick ons, ” said her mom with a smile.

“Do you have any earrings?” The girl asked me. She couldn’t have been more than eight.

“I do!” I said showing her my ears.

Girl: What color are your toenails?

Me: Blue.

Girl: Can I see?

Me: I can’t take my shoes off on the train. Plus, you don’t want to see my toes. They are pretty gross.

Girl: Do you know who Molly is?

Me: No. Who is Molly?

Girl: You don’t know who Molly is?

Me: No, who is she?

Girl: She’s on Bubble Guppies.

Me: Oh! I’ve never seen that show. But my son probably knows who she is.

Girl: So you don’t know who Molly is?

Me: I don’t. But now I do!

Girl: But do you know who Molly is now?

Me: Well, you told me who she is. She’s on Bubble Guppies, right?

Girl: So you know who Molly is?

Me: Now I do.

Girl: Okay. When is your birthday?

Me: October 17th.

Girl: What’s your name?

Me: Sarah.

Girl: Do you know know who Molly is?

Me: Yes, she’s on Bubble Guppies. Who else is on Bubble Guppies besides Molly?

Girl: Dima. Do you know who Dima is?

Me: No. Who is Dima?

Girl: Dima is on Bubble Guppies.

Me: My friend’s boyfriend is named Dima.

Girl: (to the woman next to me) What’s your name?

Woman: Susan.

Girl: What color are your toenails?

Woman: They’re not painted.

Girl: (to me) Your nails are not a color.

Me: Yeah, I have kids so if I painted my nails they would get dirty.

Girl: (to Susan) Your nails are not a color too.

Susan: I am an art teacher so my hands are always touching messy things.

Girl: Oh. Do you know who Molly is?

Susan: No. But I heard she’s on Bubble Guppies?

Girl: So you DO know who Molly is.

Susan: (Smiles) Yes.

Girl: (to me) Do you know who Molly is?

Me: I know who Molly is.

Girl: Oh.

Me: Can I tell you something? I’m a writer and I am going to write about meeting you.

Girl: (stares at me) Okay. Do you know who Molly is now?

Me: I do.

The train pulls into my station.

Me: It’s my stop. It was wonderful to meet you. I’m going to go watch Bubble Guppies when I get home. I’ll look for Molly.

I got off the train and went to work.