how does she know
that the smile
the chuckle
subliminal at best
was for the odd couple
dark skinned and light
pointing and talking
outside of our van
their gracious words
intermingled with
heavy traffic?

she speaks
as an observer of the outside world
almost as if she is not a part of it
as if she knows more
than she should
she knows more than she should
just as at birth
two days old
she opened her eyes
and turned her head towards me
when i walked into the room.

she is impossible to define.
i never will.
middle child?
magical child.