A young girl of seven years, perched on her knees upon the sidewalk in front of her childhood home, had a thought. Not a very important thought, but a thought nonetheless. One that left her bewildered. and when she was confused, well, there was only one thing she could do.

She asked her sister.

“Maddie?” Maya Rose prompted quietly, absently rolling a toy car between her hands. not wanting to startle her older sister of two years, from the chalk drawing she had been focusing on intently for the last 10 minutes.

Maddie ignored her.

Fidgeting, a hand going up to absently tug at her braid, Maya tried again.

“Maddie.”

Still focused on her drawing, the older girls side.

“What?”

Again, Maya fidgeted, shifting on her knees, as she set the toy car aside. Classping her hands together in her lap, she wiggled nervouslyOnce more. after which, wanting her sister’s full attention, she tried to be a bit firmer.

“Maddie, I have a question.”

Seeming to realize that she wouldn’t be able to focus solely on her latest masterpiece, without first answering her sister‘s question. Maddie set down her chock with a dramatic flourish, making a point to exaggerate a long suffering sigh as she met her younger sisters eyes.

“ OK, Maya. What’s your question?”

With a grin, the younger sister scooted forward on her knees, mindful of her older sisters art.

“You know how they say if you step on a crack you’ll break your mama’s back?”

Maddie shot her an incredulous look before answering.

”yes…?”

Maya squirmed a bit more, eager to finally get her question answered.

“ What if you have two dads like we do? does that mean it doesn’t affect us? are daddy and Papa safe?”

Maddie’s brain stalled.

Out of all the questions, she thought her sister might ask, she hadn’t been prepared for that one.

Staring at her younger sister blankly, the older one finally spoke with a thoughtful air.

“I’m not entirely sure…”

Maya frowned, then perked up after a moment.

“I’ll just ask daddy!”

And, with the spring to her step, Maya Rose got to her feet and trotted into their house.

If Maddie didn’t know, her dads definitely would