The Hamlet Project

I’m in my father’s living room on the couch that is also my bed when I stay with him.
I have a catalogue and in it are lots of toys.
There’s a doll in there that I have fallen in love with. She’s got
Real looking hair and she’s beautiful. I want to have her.
My father’s girlfriend is with me.
She’s sitting on the navy blue coverlet, across from the TV.
I show her the picture and I ask her about what’s written there. I hear the price.
I say, “Okay! I have fifty!” (Or however much it was. I don’t remember the numbers.)
Karen finds me amusing. She says, “You have fifty dollars?”
I say, “Sure. See?” And I show her my collection of coins. I’m sure I have fifty of them.
She tells me, no, no – this is paper money you need.
I assure her that this will be no problem either as I have plenty of paper money.
I do not yet know the difference between play money and the money that becomes
Much more complicated as I get older – The money that I’ll never have enough of –
Because right there, right then, I have everything
And she’s so silly, this woman, not to believe I can buy this thing.