Quiet kindness of letting it be

“Today I bent the truth to be kind, and I have no regret, for I am far surer of what is kind than I am of what is true.”

― Robert Brault

—

“Annie,” I say, pointing upward to indicate I will be referencing the soundtrack of Come From Away we’re listening to.

I steal a glance at my soulful daughter and continue, “This version has more in it than I’m used to.”

“No, this is the same one,” she replies, as we work on organizing the garage together. She pauses, then insists, “No. It’s the same.”

It’s not.
I know it’s not.

The version that we’re listening to has some verses and dialogue that had been cut from the Come From Away album stored on my iPhone, dating from the days when we carefully managed our music libraries.

As Spotify streams words that I don’t remember in the number “38 Planes,” I resist the urge to pull out my phone to prove I’m right.

“Oh,” I say.