The Little Girl Pepper

So, our little girl Pepper is five years old. My husband and I and Pepper had just settled in for the evening from work and school. While we were in the kitchen, the little curious one went to the recreation room. I heard typing on the computer. It was Pepper, typing very fast. It was unbelievable.

It took my husband and me by surprise. I went into the room and asked Pepper, “What are you doing?” “Mother, I am researching some things,” Pepper replied. “Ok,” I said. While I was on my way to work, and getting ready to drop Pepper off at daycare, Pepper asked me a question. “Mother, can I be anything I want to be when I grow-up?” “Yes,” I replied. “Baby, you can be whatever you want. What do you want to be? My little woman is very smart.” Pepper answered, “I want to be a doctor like you, and a lawyer like father.” “Really!” I said, astonished. Pepper continued, “I want to help people in every way I can, so, if I am both, I can heal them and protect them at the same time.” Pepper’s mother was amazed by the wisdom of such a young child. The reaction from her little mouth was so amazing that her mother looked at her with disbelief, wondering if she was her little Pepper. Already sounding grown. It’s like she had been here before. Who are you? I thought. I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Pepper, when I pick you up this evening, you and I and your father will sit and talk about what you want to be, ok,” I said. “Yes, Mother, I would like that. I can’t wait, because time is going so fast. I will be a grown-up before you know it,” she responded. I thought, Oh my goodness what have we got on our hands? A genius! I called my husband and told him exactly what Pepper said and he told me that he will be there so that we both can speak with her. My husband jokingly said, “Honey, she’s only five years old going on twenty.”

After work, I picked up Pepper at the daycare, and she was in rare form. I asked, “What’s up with you, baby girl? “Did you have a great day?” “Yes, Mother, I did,” she answered. Pepper continued, “Are we going to talk about my career when we get home?” “Yes, we are,” I said. “Daddy will be there too. When we got home, Hugh, my husband, was there already.” He greeted us, “Hi, pumpkin.” Pepper replied, “Daddy, why do you call me that?” “Because you are my little pumpkin,” Hugh responded. Her father continued, “Pumpkin, we want to talk with you because I understand you want to be a lawyer and a doctor.” Pepper said, “Yes, that’s what I want to be. Did mother tell you why?” “Yes, she did, and I thought it was a great idea if that’s what you want,” her father said. “Father, I know how I can do this. Listen, let me tell you,” she said. “Yes, baby, tell Mom and Dad,” her father said eagerly. Pepper explained, “I researched all avenues and this is how I am going about it. I will be both a lawyer and a doctor by studying a normal four-year BA or BS, and then I will go to medical school and study medicine for five years of internship, and from seven years to eight years of residency. Then I will go to law school for another three years. Then I will take the state exams on the knowledge of medicine and the exams for the knowledge of the law. It will not be easy, but a few people have done it before. Both are professional degrees. I know me. I will and I can, because this is what I want to be when I grow up.” Her father wanted an IQ test for her like yesterday.

Afterwards, Pepper’s mom and dad were standing in the kitchen talking about how they can support their daughter in realizing her dreams. Pepper got a hold one of her mom’s medical books on the vascular system and was leafing through the pages. After reading the book, she ran excitedly into the kitchen. “Mother,” she said, “How does gravity affect the body’s vascular system?” Hugh was stunned by Pepper’s question. Her question showed a level of deep thinking not typical of a 5-year old. The next day they went in for an IQ test. Pepper’s IQ was 160. Pepper’s mother had a good feeling that’s what it would be. She was both excited and sad about the high IQ. She had noticed that everything came naturally for Pepper. On the other hand, she was losing all the moments of her daughter’s childhood. Pepper asked her mother, “Why did I need to take that test?” Her mom replied, “Pepper, you are a very intelligent little girl, and your dad and I wanted to know so we can do our part as your mom and dad. Her dad thought to himself, It scares me to the point, I fear for her well-being. So, what’s in the future for this intelligent little girl? This 5-year old blows me away with her body and big brain fully powerful with all that knowledge.” Pepper said to her mom and dad, “I am good. I am not in any pain, so you don’t need to take me to another doctor.” Her mom reassured her by saying, “No baby, we are not going to take you to any more doctors, ok.” Pepper asked, “Mom, can I go to the recreation room and get on the computer for a while?” “Of course,” here mom answered. Pepper’s mother thought, it’s almost like having a child that has difficulty learning. Maybe, I am just confused. Hugh was also deep in his own thoughts. He didn’t know about his daughter’s goals and dreams until his wife told him. It was like it happened overnight. Hugh called his mom and dad and decided to visit with them in a few days. After talking to his parents, Hugh told his wife, “My mom has some videos to show us and maybe that would make us feel a lot better.”