“Hi, my name is Emily, what’s your name?”

  I squinted at the small and cheerful girl, trying to understand what she said. Something about empty names?

  “S-say that again, speak louder.” I said.

  She smiled brightly.

  “My name is Emily. What’s yours?”

  Emily. Emily. Who is Emily?

  “Girl, speak clearly. What is your name again?”

  “It’s Emily, sir! What’s yours?”

  Yours? Is she asking what is mine? Meaning, what do I own?

  I frowned.

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  “I own nothing, little girl. Go away and speak to someone else.”

  She smiled brightly.

  “I didn’t ask what you own silly! I asked what your name is!”

  She asked what? If I own silly? What does that mean? Who is this girl?

  “Girl, who are you, what’s your name?” I asked.

  She smiled brightly.

  “My name is Emily. What’s yours?”

  Name? Did I have a name? I must have one, but what was it? Henry? George? Eric? No, it can’t be.

  “I don’t know little girl. Now go off and annoy someone else.”

  She smiled brightly.

  “But I want to talk with you!”

  Talk with me? Who was this little girl? Talk with me about what, we just met!

  “Who are you, little girl? Why are you talking to me?”

  She smiled brightly.

  “My name is Emily. What’s yours?”

  Emily? Emily? Who is Emily? Is that the name of the little girl who is standing in front of me?

  “Is your name Emily, little one?”

  She smiled brightly.

  “Yes, it is! What’s yours?”

  Yours? Yours? Is this little girl asking me what I own?

  “I own nothing, little girl. Go away and speak to someone else.”

  She smiled brightly.

  “I didn’t ask what you own silly! I asked what your name is!”

  Own silly? What’s a silly? Who would own such a thing?

  “Silly? What do you mean by that girl? And what’s your name?”

  She smiled brightly.