My Reflection Got There First

Read the whole story

Every word, start to finish. The pictures come next — painted around your child, from one photo.

1. For Theo, who came back out.

   For Amara, who came back out.

   For Otto, who came back out.

   Dedication

2. Theo started cleaning his teeth. The one in the mirror had already finished.

   Amara started cleaning her teeth. The one in the mirror had already finished.

   Otto started cleaning his teeth. The one in the mirror had already finished.

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3. It waved at the dog next door. Theo had never once waved at the dog next door.

   It waved at the dog next door. Amara had never once waved at the dog next door.

   It waved at the dog next door. Otto had never once waved at the dog next door.

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4. Fine. Theo put a towel over it and went down to breakfast.

   Fine. Amara put a towel over it and went down to breakfast.

   Fine. Otto put a towel over it and went down to breakfast.

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5. It came back in the kettle. Then the spoon. Then the window, twice.

   It came back in the kettle. Then the spoon. Then the window, twice.

   It came back in the kettle. Then the spoon. Then the window, twice.

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6. New plan. Get there first. Theo did everything half a second early all morning.

   New plan. Get there first. Amara did everything half a second early all morning.

   New plan. Get there first. Otto did everything half a second early all morning.

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7. It was through the gate before he had the second shoe on. And it was on the outside of the glass.

   It was through the gate before she had the second shoe on. And it was on the outside of the glass.

   It was through the gate before he had the second shoe on. And it was on the outside of the glass.

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8. So Theo agreed to swap. He put his hands flat on the glass, and pushed.

   So Amara agreed to swap. She put her hands flat on the glass, and pushed.

   So Otto agreed to swap. He put his hands flat on the glass, and pushed.

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9. Behind the glass everything was the wrong way round, and slow. Whatever he did, he did it second.

   Behind the glass everything was the wrong way round, and slow. Whatever she did, she did it second.

   Behind the glass everything was the wrong way round, and slow. Whatever he did, he did it second.

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10. That was the whole trick of it. Theo put his shoulder into the glass and shoved himself back out.

    That was the whole trick of it. Amara put her shoulder into the glass and shoved herself back out.

    That was the whole trick of it. Otto put his shoulder into the glass and shoved himself back out.

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11. The one in the mirror was back where it started. It waited there, the way reflections do.

    The one in the mirror was back where it started. It waited there, the way reflections do.

    The one in the mirror was back where it started. It waited there, the way reflections do.

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12. Next morning Theo waved at the dog first. In every window all the way to school, the other one was half a second late.

    Next morning Amara waved at the dog first. In every window all the way to school, the other one was half a second late.

    Next morning Otto waved at the dog first. In every window all the way to school, the other one was half a second late.

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13. That night Theo cleaned his teeth with his eyes shut. It seemed like the polite thing to do.

    That night Amara cleaned her teeth with her eyes shut. It seemed like the polite thing to do.

    That night Otto cleaned his teeth with his eyes shut. It seemed like the polite thing to do.

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