Thursday, July 22, 2010

take your stranger to work day

i have quite a way with kids.
a way to get them to be quiet and let you do your work.
today at work, a little boy came up out of pretty much thin air and looked in my face without saying really anything at all. so i looked in his face, smiled, and kept at my computerizing.
"hi," he said.
"hi," i said.
because anything less would've been rude.
i didn't know who this kid was and [far as i knew] he didn't know me. hence,
"what's your name?"
"i'm elena," i said. "what's yours?"
because anything less would've been rude.
"tyler," he said.
"alfred?" i asked.
"tyler," he said.
"alfred?" i asked.
"no, tyler." he stated.
"alfred." i stated, too.
"TYLER."
"ALFRED?"
"NO. MY NAME IS TYLER."
"CAN I CALL YOU AL FOR SHORT?"
"NO. YOU CAN CALL ME TYLER."
"HOW ABOUT FRED? CAN I CALL YOU FRED FOR SHORT?"
"ok."
agreeable little chap.
i went back to my computer things.
he went back to looking in my face.
"i'm bored," said alfred.
"me too," said i.
"i don't know what to do," he said.
"you could build a snowman," i pointed out.
he gave me a look like i was probably the dumbest thing since sticks. i didn't know a kid that age could produce a look so condescending.
"no," he said, "i can't do that."
"why not?"
"there's no snow!"
"WHAT?"
"yeah. it melted into dirt!"
that made me feel a little bit better.
"rats," i said.
"so...what should i do?" he asked.
"well..." i pondered this. "you could have a snowball fight. those are fun."
"IT'S SUMMER!!!" exasperation is one of my favorite facial expressions.
"yes," i said "it is that."
he looked really long and hard at me.
"snow angels?"
"NO!"
"snow tunnels!"
"NO!!!"
"you could color a picture?"
"ok."
and he sat quietly for probably a half hour, until his mom came and found him, and drew me the nicest picture you've ever seen. of a girl with long blonde hair and hearts all around her head.
so.
you know.
i have a way with kids.

21 comments:

lydia. said...

aww. so precious.
he loves you.
:)

danny.elle. said...

probably my favorite story I've heard. In like, a month.

Chess said...

Hahaha! I wish I were that good. :-)

Jillian said...

haha! He fell in love. And now he probably tells his mom to call him alfred. ;)

AmberDenae said...

that is precious and i think alfred has a little crush ;)

Mrs. Indecisive said...

did you really tell this child his name is Alfred? If so, you're my new internet best friend <3

Alycia Grayce (Crowley Party) said...

haha I guess I should have clarified where in Canada! haha :)

Briana Teresa said...

Hahahahahahahahahah oh lawd this is perfect!

love jenny xoxo said...

that is such a cute story!! Pretty picture too :)

an9e1a said...

Aw, soooo cute!! :o}

kara lynn said...

this is adorable!

Chantelle said...

:) Just found your blog (from your comment on mine) and love it already!

kelly ann said...

aaaahahahaha. this is so GOOD. i totally imagined his facial expressions in my head. hilarious. and that picture is so dang adorable. oh fred... you're a good kid.

Gabbi said...

That is a nice drawing! And as for the conversation, I love your tactics. I'm stealing them and using them on attorney's at work.

Unknown said...

funny story and lovely pic....thanks for stopping by my blog.

Unknown said...

Too funny!

Alpha Monkey said...

Fred made you look all sassy and sly! The rolling eyes. The half smile. I think I have seen pics of you making that exact face. Please check the archives. And if none are found, take one and lie to me about it!

suzy said...

alpha monkey--i'll get on that. :)

Natalie said...

Really cute

annelise said...

I usually don't like kids, but I think I like Fred. That's gorgeous.

Ashley said...

this is too cute!