"you're so mature for your age"

A soft smile grows and the words "thank you" followed right after.

"How do you spell integration?" child me would asked.

I brace myself for the answer, knowing it'll be an recycled speech.

"Your generation is filled with technology. You can Google everything with just your fingertips, figure it out."

A soft smile grows and the words "thank you" followed right after.

Figure it out.

"What's for dinner? Can we make that food that has the chicken wings mixed with rice, please?"

"I don't feel like cooking tonight. Figure it out."

"I don't understand this, can you explain it please?"

"Figure it out, you're smart."

I asked no more questions and expected any help after many attempts no matter how important it was.

Figure it out.

Figure it out.

Figure it out.