AT met me at a park, where she readied herself for an interview in the hot sun. She told me what she thinks the words love and kind mean, and all the things she likes to do with her family. Her parents are from India. Here’s the transcript of my face to face interview with her.
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Heart: Do you like your dad or your mom better?
AT: My mom.
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Heart: Your mom? Your dad is here with us, looks like he heard you. Is it OK?
AT: My mom.
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Heart: She cooks for you? So what does that tell you? What kind of feelings does she have for you?
AT: Love.
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Heart: Good answer. What is love?
AT: You want a good answer.
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Heart: You can say anything. It can be a bad answer too. Do you love your sister? Is that love?
AT: Yeah.
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Heart: Which school do you go to?
AT: Um, elementary school. Montessori.
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Heart: What do they teach you?
AT: Ms. Sharmain is my teacher.
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Heart: Can you write something for me, maybe draw me a flower?
AT: I don’t know how to draw picture. (Starts doodling)
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Heart: Oh wow, Who taught you to draw?
AT: I learnt it by myself.
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Heart: Do you have to practice to get better? This is a beautiful flower. Thank you.
AT: I make slime at home.
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Heart: What you like to do, when you come back from school?
AT: I like to play.
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Heart: Do you watch TV with your sister?
AT: Sometimes. Sometimes, I watch alone. Sometimes, I ask my daddy to watch with me. When its a movie, I watch with my family.
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Heart: Do you read your parents books?
AT: I don’t know how to read, but I know how to read a small book.
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Heart: You know what you should do today? Read them a small book. Tell your parents, I will put you to bed today, OK? And take them to bed, and tuck them in and read to them. They’ll be laughing, giggling and having so much fun at the jokes you’re going to tell them. Try that tonight.
AT: I don’t know.
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Heart: What else do you do like to do?
AT: I like to play with my family.
Choose Kindness
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Heart: What kind of foods do you like to eat?
AT: Vegetables.
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Heart: You’re the only girl who likes to eat vegetables. And you know, that’s amazing. Do you like Indian foods or American foods.
AT: I think so, American. (sic)
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Heart: What did you have after coming back from school?
AT: Indian food.
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Heart: What kind of Indian food did you have?
AT: Um, dal chaawal. (Lentils with rice) My sister had paratha. (Stuffed bread) Paratha and ketchup.
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Heart: That’s my favorite. Why do we have to eat?
AT: When you’re hungry sometimes. I eat broccoli.
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Heart: Wow, that’s awesome. High five. What other favorite vegetables do you like?
AT: (Does high five) Broccoli, carrots.
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Heart: Do you go to the grocery store to pick your own vegetables?
AT: I tell my mommy and my daddy, if they’re going to the grocery with their cart, can you get some oranges for me? And they say yes. They feel so good.
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Heart: I want to talk less and I want you to talk more. Can we do that?
AT: My sister always reads a book to me. But sometimes I read to her. Whenever she’s telling me to read a book to her, I read a book to her. Once she reads a big book, and I read a small book.
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Heart: So, she reads big books and you read small books?
AT: Sometimes, I read BIG books.
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Heart: Wow, that’s nice, can you read them?
AT: I read them by myself.
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Heart: When was the last time you went to India on vacation?
AT: When my daddy, when he was driving to India, and Asia. Then he come to North America. That’s where my parents are. That’s where my parents grow up.
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Heart: OK. Can you tell me your best friend’s name?
AT: I think, my sister!
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Heart: How old are you?
AT: 3, 4.
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Heart: What games do you like to play?
AT: I think so, boat game? Its too hard to make a boat. I’m going to go get water, OK?
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Heart: (AT comes back with water) Do you know what kindness means? If they say, be kind, what does that mean?
AT: Be kind to your sister? Um, I always give my sister book to read. Be kind to her.
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Heart: Good answer. How can you be kind to your mother?
AT: I think so, if I let her rest and give her a book to read, is that kind?
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Heart: Yes, it is. Great answer. How can you be kind to yourself?
AT: I can cook for my mom. And sometimes she cooks for me. And sometimes I cook for her little bit. Sometimes, I’m there in the kitchen and help her. She’s cooking and I cook with her.
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Heart: So, how can you be kind to your dad?
AT: I think so, he cook a little bit. And I cook a little bit.
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Heart: (Laughs) OK, what do you want to do when you grow up?
AT: I think so, I’ll play with my dad.
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Heart: If anybody says, be nice, what does that mean?
AT: Um, help them?
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Heart: Yes, great answer. Are your friends nice to you?
AT: Yeah, but they play. Play, play, play. But, I make them food a little bit. If they go to school and there’s no teacher, I’ll be their teacher.
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Heart: Um, do you really want to be taking care of so many kids.
AT: No. I pretend like a teacher.
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Heart: What plans do you have for summer?
AT: I think so, just play with my dad. I play with my family and watch movies with them. But, my sister sometimes, she’s mad. I still take care of her. I read her a book and then she smiles. And sometimes, I’m mad at her, she just says sorry and then reads a book for me and then I just smile. I think so, I see a rabbit there. (points out into the distance)
*
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Note: Before you rate this episode, please consider if you would’ve been so open and authentic about your own life. Earlier episodes available at The Anonymous Manifesto.
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The Anonymous Manifesto is where strangers tell their stories anonymously. We’re all fabulous in our own little ways, aren’t we? And since our world is getting pretty condensed, this social experiment might expand our combined horizons.
*
Why Anonymous Manifesto?
Wait, I am confused. Why interview people?
Fair question. To find out how everyone else is able to live this unlivable life. And most importantly, to get back to having conversations with our fellow earth dwellers while prodding each other with deep questions.
What’s the point?
These interviews might show us that we are all people who are exciting, heartbroken, crazy, lonely, and thriving in some way and the same way. These interviews might inform, entertain, compel, touch, impact and inspire.
What’s a manifesto?
A public declaration of personal lessons, dreams, aspirations, opinions and goals.
Why anonymous?
These people are like you and me, common folks. Moreover, why wait in line to snag celebrity interviews? Eh?
Disclaimer:
This is not an opinionated survey of the human survival landscape. It’s a snapshot of their life in the now. To each his own.
Can I sign up to be interviewed?
Have a pulse? Sure, contact: Fill Form | Thank you!
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Interview with a three year old! Yet AT is very clear about her thoughts. Good.