For some strange reason, kids get drawn to me very easily. They wave at me from the back seat of their parents cars, they stick out their sticky hands to grab my hair or glasses, and occasionally stare me down till I look away before I burst out laughing.
Last night, I had gone out after work to catch a movie with a friend from work, which was weird in itself as I don't really watch that many movies to begin with, and especially not on weeknights after a long day at work. But somehow it happened, and at 7:40 pm, a few minutes before we're scheduled to go into the cinema itself I find myself on a bench eating the driest, vilest doughnut I've ever had in my life. (I don't like doughnuts in the first place, but I was hungry)
So, we're talking to each other and suddenly this kid shows up, all smiles, trying his best to say something to me in baby talk and some mumbling which I obviously didn't understand. My friend, (who kids are supposedly afraid of) translates that the kid wants my doughnut and happily suggested that I entice the kid by tearing off a bit of the doughnut and wave it around so he comes nearer. Much to my horror, I found myself actually tearing off a quarter of the doughnut, and weakly wave it. The kid walks nearer, and actually makes a grab for it and takes it right off my fingers as I look in aghast waiting for an annoyed parent to come and yell at me for 'feeding' their child (and probably causing him to be awake all night because of the sugar!) My parents would have killed me if I had been two and taken food from a stranger although the stranger looks like she is a nice girl in safety boots. Don't ask.
My friend didn't help much either by saying again and again that you can't give food to a stranger's child! (I knew that, but you can't fight with a kid by taking back the doughnut he had taken from you right? What if he starts crying and screaming and I get accused of being a kidnapper or something?)
My friend didn't help much either by saying again and again that you can't give food to a stranger's child! (I knew that, but you can't fight with a kid by taking back the doughnut he had taken from you right? What if he starts crying and screaming and I get accused of being a kidnapper or something?)
The kid skips off, elated at first. No parents came and yelled at me because they had actually disappeared and left the poor kid unattended and alone! How irresponsible. As the kid worriedly looks while wildly screaming for his parents in a language only he understands, he actually stops to take a bite of the doughnut he had in his hands. We burst out laughing. Seems like he loves the doughnut more than his parents!
I can be relied upon to stop crying if someone hands me some chocolate
ReplyDeleteYou must have some sort of a ' magnetic effect ' on kids naturally ! Now - don't you think that's wonderful ?? :)
ReplyDeletenursemyra: LOL. I could too. :)
ReplyDeleteunicorn girl: I guess I do... it's quite interesting because they actually interact with you, but sometimes it's kinda scary as well.
Maybe the kids like you because you are scared of them.It gives them power ;).
ReplyDeleteLOL. Actually I only get a bit unnerved if they become overfriendly. But yeah, they probably sense me being uncomfortable with prolonged eye contact.
ReplyDeleteYou don't like movies or donuts but there you were at the movie theater eating a donut, the kid obviously knew you were out of your comfort zone and took advantage.
ReplyDeleteWell it is rather irresponsible to let the kid wander but he got some donut out of it. I have the same issue with kids liking me yet I can't tolerate them.
ReplyDeleteThat happens to me , too - kids will seek my attention and I'm not even a big fan of kids (in spite of the fact that I have a couple of them!)
ReplyDeleteJust to let you know, I had to change URL's. This avatar links ot the new site.
Ryan: There's no way the kid could know that... but then again, you never know it with kids...
ReplyDeleteRicardo: I used to like kids... (and even wanted to have twins a long time ago!) They just got very, very irritating recently with the emergence of over-indulgent parents.
SAW: LOL... maybe they do know...
It's weird....kid's come up to me all the time as well which is ironic cos i dont like kids! My mum says it;'s becos they mistake me for a child cos of my hobbit size :p
ReplyDeleteI dunno, la... kids get attracted to my whole family, including my dad (dads always look scary, so naturally kids should be afraid!) It's funny, really. I don't mind the well behaved, proper ones. But some of them have 'mischief-maker' written all over their faces.
ReplyDeleteI love to disturb kids.The proper one always get shy when you give them attention (which is very adorable) and the mischief makers always keep me entertained.Come to think of it I actually like kids more than babies and adults
ReplyDeleteHahaha... yeah, some are just plain adorable. But it doesn't make it any less unnerving.
ReplyDeleteill never forget the kid and his sly smile...
ReplyDeleteNeither will I... :)
ReplyDelete