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Farah tried her best to keep her curly-haired toddler Yusuf still while feeding him a banana, but Yusuf didn't want to eat the banana; he wanted to play with his newest toy - the colourful bricks that made a pattern when put together correctly.
"Fine, you win; you can play with your toy," Farah sighed. "Maybe your new friend has better luck getting you to eat something. I heard he loves to eat."
Farah had met Elena at work. Elena moved to Holland with her family because of her husband's new job at the Italian embassy. The two women bonded over their shared love for flowers, Brad Pitt, and their sons, who they discovered were close in age. Farah's son was fifteen days older than Elena's son, and the two women decided to see if the toddlers would get along. That was why they arranged a playdate this Saturday afternoon.
"You sit here while I do what a woman does in the bathroom," Farah said as she placed Yusuf in the playpen. "I'll be back in a moment."
The moment Yusuf sat in the playpen, he looked at his mother with a disappointed look. Farah knew very well what that look meant and what would follow, so she quickly went to the bathroom. Farah had just sat down on the toilet when Yusuf let out a cry that meant he wanted out of the playpen. When Farah was leaving the bathroom, it knocked on the door.
"Hi, Elena," Farah said. "Please come inside."
"Thank you," Elena replied. "Could I ask you to hold Nicolò? I need a bathroom. The baby is dancing on my kidney today."
Nicolò babbled and pointed at his mother's stomach.
"Yes, I agree with you," Elena said. "It isn't nice to kick people."
Farah took Nicolò, who looked at the new woman with his clear blue eyes.
"Hi, Nicolò," Farah said. "You're just as cute as your mother said you are."
"I should warn you," Elena said. "He likes to..."
Before Elena could warn Farah, Nicolò headbutted her before he giggled. It wasn't a hard headbutt at all. It was more Nicolò's forehead touching Farah's cheek, but nonetheless, it made Nicolò giggle.
"Sorry, he learned that from his cousin last weekend," Elena said. "His cousin thought teaching Nicolò how to use his head while playing football was a great idea."
"I don't mind," Farah replied when a cry coming from the living room reminded her of someone. "You use the bathroom while I take care of the would-be fugitive in the living room."
Elena looked at Farah with a confused look.
"You'll see soon enough," Farah said. "Come, Nicolò. Let's get you out of your jacket and shoes."
Farah carried Nicolò into the living room. When Yusuf saw another toddler sitting on his mother's arms, he pouted and crossed his arms.
"No need to look like that, Yusuf; you'll always be my favourite," Farah said. "This is Nicolò. A new friend for you, Yusuf."
Farah got Nicolò out of his clothes before she placed Nicolò in the playpen next to Yusuf. Both toddlers looked at each other momentarily before Nicolò headbutted Yusuf in the same way as before. Farah had expected that Yusuf would cry because he didn't like when others than his mother touched him. But instead, Yusuf giggled together with Nicolò, and both toddlers started to babble.
"Looks like they like each other," Farah said when Elena came into the living room. "Something I'm so happy to see. Yusuf has found it hard to find new friends in the daycare."
"So, goes for Nicolò," Elena replied. "And it also makes me happy to see them together."
"Me too," Farah replied. "I made tea, and we can see them from the kitchen."
Yusuf held up one of the bricks and showed it to Nicolò, who smiled. Nicolò's smile only brightened even more when Yusuf made a pattern and clapped over what Yusuf had done. Then Yusuf placed Nicolò's hand on the bricks, and when Nicolò made a pattern, Yusuf clapped over what Nicolò had done.
"Maamaa," Nicolò said. "Banaaana. Thanks."
"Just a moment, Sweetie," Elena replied before walking to the playpen. "Do you also want some Yusuf?"
"Don't take it badly if he doesn't," Farah said. "I'm having a hard time getting Yusuf to eat fruit."
Elena divided the banana into two pieces before she offered the toddlers a half each. Where Nicolò with a big smile took his half, Yusuf shook his head, so Elena gave Nicolò both halfs. Then Elena returned to the kitchen, and the two women sat down to drink a cup of tea. When the women looked at the toddlers in the playpen, they saw Nicolò offering Yusuf a piece of the banana, but Yusuf shook his head. Then Nicolò took one of the half bananas and smeared it out over Yusuf's face.
"Nicolò," Elena said. "That isn't how you treat your friend."
Before either of the women could get up, Yusuf had taken the banana on his face and smeared it over Nicolò's face. It made both toddlers laugh, and when Nicolò offered Yusuf a bite of the remaining banana, Yusuf ate it without complaining. When Yusuf had eaten the banana, Nicolò clapped before wrapping his tiny arms around Yusuf and hugged him.
"Incredible," Farah said. "This is the first time Yusuf has eaten any fruit."
"You should almost think that Nicolò planned it," Elena replied. "We better wash them before there are bananas all over the playpen."
When Elena picked up Nicolò, Yusuf started to cry and reached for Nicolò, while Nicolò did the same thing.
"Don't cry," Elena said when she placed Nicolò on the kitchen counter. "Yusuf is right here."
Farah placed Yusuf next to Nicolò on the kitchen counter, where Yusuf took Nicolò's hand.
"My friend," Yusuf said. "My friend."
Yusuf then headbutted Nicolò, which made both toddlers laugh.
"I'm glad you got a friend, Yusuf," Farah said. "Now, let me wash you so that you can play some more with your new friend."
After both toddlers had been washed, they once again were placed in the playpen, where they played with the bricks.
"We got a problem," Farah said a half hour later. "Yusuf and Nicolò will be heartbroken when you go home."
Both women looked at the toddlers, who had fallen asleep on top of each other. Yusuf was still holding onto Nicolò, but it was Nicolò's foot this time.
"We better let them have a playdate tomorrow," Elena replied. "Why don't you come over for lunch tomorrow?"
"We would love to," Farah replied. "And then we can tell them that they will see each other in daycare. When are you dropping Nicolò off?"
"At 7:30 AM," Elena replied. "We like to take it slow in the morning. No matter what day of the week. It has to do with Enzo's long workdays."
"I understand," Farah replied. "I also love to take it slow in the morning. Most of all, because Yusuf will suddenly move away from home one day."
"I also fear that day," Elena replied. "But I try not to dwell too much about it and enjoy all the time I can get with Nicolò. And the baby when it's born next year."
"So do I," Farah replied. "So, are we going to see the new movie with Brad Pitt next week? Yusuf is with his father, so I don't need to find a babysitter."
While the women talked, the toddlers woke. Nicolò placed a hand on the playpen's sides before pointing at a wooden elephant in the window. Seconds later, Elena noticed what the toddlers were doing.
"Farah?" Elena asked. "Is it normal that Yusuf gnaw on the playpen's sides?"
"Sadly, yes. That's what I meant with the would-be fugitive earlier," Farah replied. "Ever since Yusuf started teething, he has been trying to gnaw his way out of the playpen."
Farah picked up Yusuf, who wasn't happy about it and started to wriggle again while reaching for Nicolò. Nicolò got up on his shaky legs and also reached for Yusuf.
"Neenee," Yusuf said. "My friend."
"Yuyu," Nicolò said. "My friend."
Farah checked Yusuf's mouth to see if there was any damage. Farah was really glad it wasn't a wooden playpen but one with a mesh fence.
"That is cute," Elena said. "The way they say their names."
"It's yes," Farah replied. "I wonder if it will stick."
"Me too," Elena replied as she picked up Nicolò. "We better get home. Papa will be home soon and wants to play with you before dinner."
Farah put Yusuf down on the floor and crawled over to the sofa where Elena had sat down on the sofa and started putting on Nicolò's shoes. When the first shoe was on, Nicolò took it off and threw it on the floor. Yusuf clapped before he used Elena's knee to get up so he could reach Nicolò.
"Stay," Nicolò said. "Stay with Yuyu."
"You'll see him tomorrow and the day after that. You got so much time in the world to play," Elena replied. "I promise you."
It took longer than usual to get the shoes on Nicolò because Yusuf also threw the shoes on the floor. Each time Yusuf threw a shoe, it made Nicolò giggle and clap. In the end, Farah picked up Yusuf, who wriggled again, which Nicolò also started to do.
"I think we can say that their first playdate was a success," Elena said. "So, see you tomorrow at 11 AM?"
"We can't wait," Farah replied. "Can you say goodbye to Nicolò and Elena, Yusuf?"
Both toddlers wrapped their tiny arms around each other, and it took the women a bit to separate them, resulting in both toddlers crying while reaching for each other.
"I don't know with you," Farah said while she bounced Yusuf on her arm in an attempt to comfort her son. "But I feel guilty over separating them."
"So do I," Elena replied. "We better get going. Maybe we can Facetime each other later so that they can see each other again."
"That is a great idea," Farah replied. "I promise you'll see Nicolò later again."
It took a long while before Yusuf stopped crying after Elena and Nicolò had left. After a clean diaper, Farah placed Yusuf in his highchair so she could cook dinner. As usual, Farah gave Yusuf a biscuit, but he shook his head this time.
"Maamaa," Yusuf said. "Banaaana. Thanks."
"That was new," Farah replied. "Ok, you can have a banana."
Farah gave Yusuf the banana, and he ate it without any complaints.
"Neenee," Yusuf said. "Friend, banana, tut-tut."
"I got the first part," Farah replied. "What do you mean with tut-tut?"
Yusuf pointed at the wooden elephant.
"Oh, you want to show Nicolò the elephant?" Farah said. It made Yusuf nod. "You can show Nicolò the elephant when you get older."
After dinner, Farah called Elena, and when the toddlers saw each other, they started to babble. Nicolò showed Yusuf his stuffed toy seal, while Yusuf showed Nicolò his firetruck. Yusuf was the first one who fell asleep during his talk with Nicolò. And if you asked Elena, it was like Nicolò would first go to sleep when he was sure Yusuf was sleeping. After talking a bit with Elena, Farah called Yusuf's father Alex. They had only dated for a couple of months, and when Farah told Alex she was pregnant, Alex promised to be there for them both.
"Hi, Farah," Alex said. "Just a moment, I can't hear anything inside."
Alex was working as a youth boxing trainer. He had promised Farah he wouldn't push Yusuf into boxing. It had to be Yusuf's own decision if he wanted to be a boxer.
"We are having a party to celebrate that one of my boxers won an important tournament," Alex said. "So, tell me all about Yusuf's playdate. How did it go? And is Yusuf eating fruit or still being picky?"
It was an agreement they had. Whoever had Yusuf would call the other one and tell about Yusuf's day because they both were interested in their son's life and wanted the best for him.
"I'm so happy that Yusuf finally has a friend and that he is eating fruit without complaining," Alex said. "Do you think I also could arrange a playdate for Yusuf and his new friend? I was thinking maybe it could be on Wednesdays when Yusuf eats dinner with me. We always have pasta, which must be something for an Italian."
Farah had one weekly afternoon shift. On those days, Yusuf was with Alex.
"Let me hear what Nicolò's mother says about it," Farah promised. "Now, tell me about the tournament. So, I can tell Yusuf about it tomorrow."
They talked for a bit. After ending the call, Farah checked on Yusuf. It was there that Farah noticed that Yusuf was holding something in his fisted hand. Gently, Farah opened Yusuf's hand and saw a tiny sock with seals on it. Yusuf must have taken it while they were throwing with Nicolò's shoes. Tomorrow, Farah would tell Elena about it. Farah kissed Yusuf on his forehead, feeling so grateful that her son finally had gotten a friend.