Friday, May 01, 2009

Welcome to the wolf pack

"What do you need, Gracie?"

It was our typical Sunday morning routine. We stood shoulder to shoulder in front of my bathroom mirror; I put on make-up while she rummaged through my jewelry for sparkly or pink baubles to borrow that coordinated with her outfit. Then the seven year old looked at me and paused thoughtfully. We proceeded to carry on the most thoughtful and calm conversation I've ever had with this child - as casual as if she were merely breathing.

"What is that green stuff under your eyes, Mommy?"

"Green?"

"Yes. Those dark green patches under your eyes. Did you grow up in a wolf pack?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, your eyes remind me of a dog's eyes. You know, all droopy under there and dark looking. Did you used to be a dog?"

"Oh. Well, no, I was never a dog before. I've always been a human."

"You should put on more make up, then, if you don't want to look like you grew up in a wolf pack."

"Thank you, Gracie. I'm working on it."

17 comments:

Aniket Thakkar said...

Come on. Think hard. Don't you just wanna do a "Awwooooooooo" at the sight of a full moon. ROFL!!!

You go Gracie! :-D

Karen said...

What an interesting piece! Aren't the workings of the human mind intriguing? I'm still mulling over the implications of the wolf pack and Gracie's advice, as I'm sure are you...

Katie Zuniga said...

I always find it interesting to hear what kids have to say. Sometimes they speak without reservation and it fascinates me.

Jerolyn Bogear said...

I knew kiddo #3 was interesting. But I'm never letting her see me before makeup, that's for sure.

Kelsey said...

You gotta love her imagination and spunk.

Jane D. said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jane D. said...

This reminds of the fake "Who am I?" paper we wrote for Freshman Development Seminar when we were in college....

Who am I?

You know I ask myself that question every morning when I wake up and I say, "I don't know, but put some make up on, you'll look a whole lot better."

Amritorupa Kanjilal said...

LOL!!
that kid is going to grow up to be a writer. she just is.
i loved her imagination and sense of conviction :) you should check your early history and make sure you really never were a dog

bluesugarpoet said...

Yes, Gracie certainly is a creative thinker for sure!

Jane D. - I was just thinking of that paper a few days ago. Alluded to it in a comment on pjd's blog, in fact. hahaha

lgl - funny thing - I was born in the "Year of the Dog." Coincidence?

bluesugarpoet said...

@ Ani - fuuuunnny! ;P

@Karen, so true; perhaps she was insinuating that the school where i work is a bit of a wolf pack...makes me tired to think of it

@ Katie - thanks for dropping by! kids are funny that way, aren't they.:)

@ Jer - yeah, she's a corker!

@ Kelsey - for sure; just you wait - I'm sure your KD will have lots to say....:)

PJD said...

Gotta love children, who see truth in a unique way and aren't afraid to speak it. See: Andersen, Hans Christian, specifically the story about the emperor's tailors.

I had coached my son's soccer team for three months and one day took my hat off because it was really hot. One of the kids looked up, screwed up his face in a sort of grimace, and said, "Wow, you're really bald!" If the rules of our league allowed it, I'd have made him play goalie the rest of the year.

Dalene said...

It makes the compliments they give that much sweeter, doesn't it?

C.A. said...

LOL... that girl is a keeper!

laughingwolf said...

what's wrong with growing up in a wolf pack? :O lol

wondering wuffs wanna know ;)

Catherine Vibert said...

Ha ha ha! From the mouths of babes! I have dark circles and I've had em since birth, what are you gonna do, you know? We are what we are!

iron girl traveling said...

That's why I smear mud under the eyes on the trail runs...takes years of the face. Need to get out there soon!

bluesugarpoet said...

@pjd - you are going bald???

@Dalene - so true!

@C.A. - me thinks you hear this sort of thing from your oldest too; she is a clever one as well.

@laughingwolf - perhaps we are from the same pack? proud beta here! ;)

@cat - so true! the cure: eat more chocolate (okay, not really a cure, but i just like having one more reason to eat chocolate)

@irongirl - lol - and here all along i thought you were just going tribal on me when you smeared your face w/ mud. Yes, we need to hit the trails soooooon!