That first afternoon it was quiet, and my coffee stayed hot.

Over 30 minutes by himself on the rug, saying each word back.

His mother asked what he watched, and I said "nothing" and meant it.

The $9 one said "candy", in front of his mother.

Every card is listened to before it ships, in one clear American voice.

Any wrong word gets replaced. It said "apple", he said "apple", in my own kitchen.

I doubted his little hands could get a card in.

No app, nothing to set up, and he had it that first afternoon.

Now I do my crossword and hear "dog" from across the room.

Lunch dates used to mean my phone propped against the ketchup.

Now the reader rides in my purse, cards thick and coated.

On low, the next booth doesn't mind, and he says his words to me.

I've been burned by a toy that came out of the box puny.

So I'll say it plain. It's small, about four inches, my phone turned sideways.

It fits his hands, and one charge lasts several days.

Card in, it says the word, he says it back.

510 words, all checked. No screen, no app, no Wi-Fi. Two buttons.

It doesn't teach him to talk, that part is still his mother and me.

He pointed at her car and said "car".

That night she texted, asking where I got it.

I don't get many texts like that. Lots of grandmothers buy these.

Free shipping, out the same day, one to two weeks. Order ahead of birthdays.

I once paid $32 to return a $40 toy.

60 days, free US returns, full refund. His first "apple" only happens once.