Shelayla

Born in Mexico in 1992, Shelayla made her way across the border via Flo, a dear friend and nanny to my entire family.

Over the years, our little Mexican friend has wrecked miniature kitchens, messed up bedrooms, and tossed Beanie Babies with a better 3-point average than Michael Jordan.

In 2001, in order to escape deportation, she escaped from Chicago to New Jersey, where she resided in captivity for 12 years; a prisoner in a box of toys.

She emerged in 2013 during a moving sale, and begged to move to New York State with my family. Beforehand, she made appearances in various beds, a freezer, and the microwave.

How could we abandon her?

The other day, she appeared in a box of my cookbooks, after 13 months of living in a storage facility in Upstate New York. I thought it only fitting and proper that she be waiting in bed for our "baby" daughter, who was visiting our new home from NYC for the first time. (Rachel is a Junior at NYU.)

What do you think she did?......

Ok, I'll fill you in.

Rachel took a picture of her and sent it to her older sister in Brooklyn, who was sufficiently amused. "What? That crazy bitch is back? I thought Dad exorcised her!"

Where will Shelayla end up next???