"Mama, why doesn't Bluey have any train people?" DJ asked, attention momentarily diverting from the TV screen to fix Alex with a curious expression.
Looking up sharply from her crossword puzzle, Alex shot her daughter a look of utter confusion. "Train people?" she repeated. "What on Earth is a train person?"
DJ met her mother's confusion with confusion of her own. "Momily used to be a train, right?"
It took Alex a few moments to follow the mental gymnastics that was a four year old's though process before understanding dawned on her. "Oh. No. Momily used to be a boy and now she's a girl." It was oversimplified, of course, but they tailored the explanation to the child's ability to understand.
DJ was silent for a long time. Then, in a small (yet, deadly serious) voice, she said, "So, Momily doesn't know Thomas?"
"No, Pickle, Momily doesn't know Thomas the Tank Engine."
"Okay." And just like that, the matter was forgotten...for exactly the amount of time it took Alex to get lost in her crossword puzzle once again. Then, "Mama? Will you play Train People with me?"
Emily kicked the door shut behind her. She was in the process of unzipping her boots, propping herself up against the wall with her back to the living room...and was very nearly bowled over by DJ who was running full force at her.
"Momily, get out of the way! My brakes are shot!"
"Your brakes!?" Emily yelped, leaping out of the way just in time to avoid the preschooler-shaped missile.
Without bothering to explain anything, DJ hugged her and brightly informed her, "I love you, even though you don't know Thomas." Before Emily could even process the statement, let alone react to it, DJ had sped off again.
Panting slightly, Alex came jogging after her. "I'll explain later," she said, "It's a Bluey thing."