Dinner with Darth

This is a story that fell through the cracks, gang. But it illustrates Elijah’s personality so well, I have to tell it.

As you recall, my father gave Elijah a Darth Vader costume for his birthday. And for several days after, he wore it constantly. At any given moment in our house there’d be a tiny Dark Lord Of The Sith playing cars, pooping or watching Star Wars.

Inevitably, there was that moment when Diana had to ask herself, “Do I take a miniature Darth Vader to Chipotle? Or is that weird?”

She chose the dark side of the Force.

As she entered the Chipotle with Darth and Luca, Diana looked around. The only other patron was a suited businessman sitting on a stool, finishing off a burrito.

Almost on cue, Tiny Darth climbed onto a stool directly next to the hapless businessman and struck up a conversation.

Diana was far enough away that she couldn’t hear what they were talking about, but close enough to watch their body language. So she decided to just finish ordering and watch for the cue that the guy had enough.

What always strikes Diana about these situations is not how well Elijah handles himself. He has absolutely no fear of talking to complete strangers (the #1 reason he is never allowed to go anywhere by himself). No, it’s the way adults seem perfectly content to carry an adult conversation with a 4 year old.

From what Diana could see, the man fielded a barrage of questions from Eli without ever once stooping to patronizing and without even looking around to see if this tiny Anakin Skywalker (spoiler alert) had a parent.

Eventually, Diana and Luca crossed the restaurant to save the businessman. She said, “I bet when you woke up this morning you didn’t think you’d be having dinner with Darth Vader tonight.”

He said, “No. No I did not.” And finished his burrito.