My friends and their adorable blond imp of a one-year-old daughter are visiting me this week. Yesterday they thought that she would enjoy the dioramas at the Museum of Natural History, so we walked the block and a half from my apartment in the suffocating heat for an afternoon in the dark and cool museum among the dead stuffed animals. When we arrived, Friends’ Daughter loved the dioramas as much as they thought she would.
As soon as we were in a relatively uncrowded room, they released her from her jail of a stroller. She immediately began toddling toward a display case with African masks, but made a detour on the way. A little boy, who seemed to be about 5 or 6, was standing near a bench fiddling with his backpack. In the meantime, he put his little robot-Transformers-thingee toy down on the bench. He watched Friends’ Daughter intently as she approached. Just as she reached out to pick up the toy, he snatched it up and gave her an incredibly dirty look. She just looked back at him sweetly.
His camp group was leaving, and he went to join them. On his way out, he repeated spun around to look back at Friends’ Daughter and glare at her. “You just watch it, lady,” his eyes said, “I’ve got your number.” Friends and I laughed hysterically. One of my friends commented how amazing it was that such a young kid could hold a grudge like that.
I wonder if I began my impressive grudge-holding career (and believe me, I am a champion) began at such a tender age.
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You should send that into the metropolitan diary at the NY Times. It would be a heck of a lot better than most of the schlock they've been running lately.
ReplyDeleteI love that museum. The other day I saw a little girl walk up to a stranger's empty stroller (that kid was walking alongside) and start throwing the toys in the stroller onto the ground, including sunglasses. Her dad was behind her, picking up the toys as they were thrown. It took him longer than it should have to pick up the girl and apologize to the stranger. It made me laugh, though.
ReplyDeleteProbably. So much is plugged in before we are born, it's unbelievable. I'm awed by the fact the girl looked back at him sweetly. Where did that come from?
ReplyDeleteYes, the origin of grudges...an interesting topic.
ReplyDeleteAnd count me in as an active member of CUSS. (Found your link on Badger's site.)
ooo, this makes me want to go to the natural history museum here.. except that it has moved to be downtowna nd i havent been to its new location and i am nervous abou it. i loved its old building in gg park!!!
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