Emma started taking French in 7th grade and she was a natural. She had a great ear for languages, just as she had a great ear for music. That good ear, coupled with a lack of inhibition, meant that she soon became a fluid, if not fluent French speaker.
Emma took every opportunity to speak French, even if she had to create those opportunities. She was frequently chattering in French as she went about her business around the house and this scene played out rather frequently at dinner.
We’d all be sitting around the dinner table having a lively conversation and Emma would pipe in with an emphatic point – in French. Of course, that would bring the conversation to a screeching halt. We’d all look at her a little puzzled and one of us, usually Sarah, would say “What did you say, Emma?” Emma would then repeat what she had said a little louder and a little more slowly, but still in French. The look of amusement would spread around the table, reaching everyone but Emma. Then someone would say in a slow, reminding tone, “Emma, we don’t speak French.”
And this is when the smile would hit her face. “Oh yes, I forgot,” she’d say. "Quel dommage!"
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