tattoo

marc took this picture last week. she was running around naked with her little boy friend, 'wij zijn echte piraten, mama!'. the little boy is leaving for Senegal in two weeks time. most of the time, she doesn't know what that means, but then suddenly it hits her, and she bursts into tears. she will be missing him. he is her special friend. such a big girl. rings under her eyes, going to bed too late, waking up too early. and things on her mind. things she doesn't always share anymore. her hair so wild. a soft nest for invisible birds. 'mama, mijn haar is echt een jungle... kijk daar komt de tijger, grwraaaah!'. when she can't sleep in the evenings, she sits with us on the little balcony up front, watching the night blanket cover the town, sipping fresh mint tea with honey. telling stories. the other night, right in front of us, the big dipper. 'mama', she said, 'het is de eerst keer dat ik echte sterren zie... mama, zijn de sterren ver?'. and she has a tatoo. my girl.