(…or is she 12 already? They grow up so fast these days…)
– When I get a bit older, I want to be a Goth. I’m going to wear loads of black … black nails, black lipstick … and I’m going to call myself … Tammy.
– Tammy? That’s not a very Gothic name, is it?
– (somewhat taken aback) But the singer in Evanescence is called Tammy!
– [suddenly feels very old indeed]
– I really like Evanescence. I’ve even got one of those … oh, what do you call those things where you only get three tracks, and they’re all the same song anyway? Oh yeah … (witheringly, dismissively) … singles.
– So you’re not into singles, then? What about the Top 40 – do you follow that?
– (with authority) I think the Top 40 is really silly. Because there are only about 2 or 3 people in our class who buy singles, and they’re all the same sort of person anyway. What’s that CD you’re playing? Can I take a look?
[picks up Yes CD (“Fragile”) and examines booklet]
– Eurgh! They’re all really ugly! (amused) Did you really listen to that stuff when you were young? Do you still like it now?
– Yeah … I mean, we don’t listen to it all that often, but when we do … yeah, it still sounds good.
– (firmly) I’ll always like Evanescence, and I’ll always like Good Charlotte.
– Well, just you wait then. In thirty years time, you could be sitting around the dinner table with your daughter, and she might take a look at your Evanescence and Good Charlotte CDs, and she might say: “Oh, mum! Did you really like this lot? They look really stupid, and they sound awful!”
– [dumbfounded look – she hasn’t thought of this before]
– [thinks: ha! gotcha, little girl!]