Evesdropping ;-)

Bella made a new friend this evening at the park, a little girl who was almost 4. Watching the way they interacted was probably the most amusing thing I've ever seen in my life! Their conversation went a little something like this:

Girl: You're a kitty.
Bella: I not a kitty, I Bella! (runs away)
Girl: No, you're a kitty. (chases)
Bella: I not a kitty.
Girl: Yes you are!
Bella: No I NOT!
Girl: YES YOU ARE.
Bella: NO I NOT!
Girl: YES YOU ARE A KITTY!
Bella: [sigh] Okaaaaay, I'm a kitty!
Girl: Ok.
Bella: (running up to me) Mommy, I a kitty!
Girl: No you're not, you're a girl.
Bella: I not a girl!
Girl: Yes you are.
Bella: No I not, I'm Bella.
Girl: Ok, let's go down the slide!
Bella: Ok!

[a few minutes later]

Bella: Wow, you're tricky! (girl is climbing ladder)
Girl: No I'm not! This is easy.
Bella: I can't climb this one.
Girl: You're a bratty brat.
Bella: I not a bratty, I'm Bella. (walks up to me) Mommy, she's not being nice. Hmmm. I know! I say 'thank you!' (walks back to girl)
Bella: Thank you.
Girl: You're a bratty brat. (girl's mom reprimands girl for calling names)
Bella: I not a bratty, I'm Bella. That's not nice. THANK YOU.

Bella then proceeds to stomp off, yelling at the top of her lungs, "I'm MAD!! I'm SOOOOOO MAD!!! Hmmph!" Then she sits down on the bench on the other side of the playground, yells "I'm MAAAAAAAD!!!!!" once more for good measure, crosses her arms and pouts. About 10 seconds later, she walks back over to the girl, who is now on the springy duck thingy:

Bella: I'm sorry.
Girl: You don't have to be sorry, I called YOU names. I'm sorry.
Bella: Ok. Will you play with me?
Girl: Ok.
Bella: Can I ride on the ducky?
Girl: Sure, you can ride this one, and I'll ride the zebra.

(Later, when it was time for the girl to go home):

Girl: You're my best friend now. Are you coming back to the park tomorrow?
Bella: Of course!
Girl: Ok, bye Bella!
Bella: Ok, bye!