This is Holly, age five. She is the youngest daughter of friends Randy and Kristina. Holly’s brother and sister
are only two or three years older, but at this age, that’s a lifetime. Her siblings are off playing with other, older
kids, doing older-kid things. Holly tends to keep to herself.
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It seems to me she likes it that way. She’s building a sand sculpture here, which requires water from the lake.
I watch her skip joyously down to the water and back again ... in her own world, oblivious to anyone around her,
and thrilled to be doing it. All the while, she’s talking to herself. Talking typically requires the co-operation of a
second party, but  Holly takes on that role, too.
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Every now and then, she lifts her head and reconnects with the world. I’ve even seen her come over and skirt the
edge of the others’ play. She’ll occasionally get in their way on purpose, a bit, just to make them pay her some
attention, but she really wants no part of what they’re doing. She’s just there, making sure she’s not missing
anything, and then it’s off, back to the solitude of ‘Hollyworld’, where she’s the boss.   Mark Heine