A friend of mine who went to visit her family for the holiday, asked me to walk a little boy to school, a regular job she has. So for three days I showed up at Arthur’s house at 7:30 a.m. where I sat till 8 watching him eat, daydream and brush his teeth while his mother, before she left for work, barked orders…Ah-tha, do you have your homework? Ah-tha, bring your plate to the kitchen? Ah-tha, don’t forget ta lock the dua…
AH-THA!
I still don’t quite understand why I had to be there that soon like I was watching the first act of a play, but gather is what’s expected when you’re being paid fifteen dollars cash for forty-five minutes of your time.
Arthur, who just turned ten, is the sweetest boy. A little chubby, glasses perched on his nose…a cowlick with a shirttail constantly hanging out. Took everything I had not to shove it back in, comb his hair and plunk him on a treadmill.
My maternal instincts, not to mention fashion sense, were awakened as if sirens went off.
He looks like a short accountant, or divorce lawyer, the kind with buttons that suddenly pop open like a Jack-in-the-box.
What I love most about him besides his good manners, is his lack of self-consciousness. He has no idea he could lose a few pounds.
His mother, a tad neurotic, texted me to check his new pants to make sure he had no tags hanging.
Being also a neurotic, just with more of a seersucker bent, texted back…we’re already in the school yard and don’t want to embarrass him among his friends.
Connecticut dies hard, even when it involves a little Jewish boy with his price tags allegedly flapping.
My friend, who asked me to help, said I shouldn’t hover, just to make sure he gets into school safely, on time. So as I hung back allowing the young man his space, I was touched when he waved at me before disappearing into the arms of one of the finest public schools New York has to offer.
AH-THA…have a nice day.
Very sweet !
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Remember when you went to school? Did someone walk you? I tell him jokes he politely laughs at. Nothing like good manners. I can hear his mother…Ah-tha, when she tries to be funny it won’t hurt to laugh a little, like when daddy has too much to drink 🙂
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It’s sweet that his mother cares enough to hire an escort (no not that kind of escort….at least not yet!). It’s also wonderful that he isn’t self-conscious. That comes soon enough when he discovers he doesn’t look like the current boy-actor darling. Actually it sounds like a good gig.
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She’s very doting, no question. She doesn’t want him crossing the street alone. What he loses in physique he makes up in brains. He’s very bright…NASA-esque on the computer. He’s also very popular at school high-fiving all over the place, like a chubby politician. Lol
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Sounds like he’s doing ok. Childhood…such a hard time. Wait…so is every other stage of life!
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There’s a cat who sleeps in a first story window on the way to school. When I showed him, he burst into such a grin. You’d love this kid.
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I already do!
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🙂
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My first thought was George Costanza … and his mother!
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That’s exactly right. Made me laugh. Ah-tha!…George!
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Sweet post. Ah-tha was lucky to have you by his side Susannah. ~Elle
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Was nice for me too. I got to take my maternal leanings out for a walk so to speak 🙂
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Seems you now walk people not just dogs. Maybe there is a future in this. Fifteen bucks cash…what’s not to like?
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He does look puppyish, I must say. He’s very cute.
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The economics of this intrigue me, or maybe I’m just being nosey.
Why doesn’t his mother walk him to school?
Much as it prompts an interesting post from you, I can’t believe this is enterprise worthy of your considerable talent.
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She leaves sooner and as far as I go, I was helping someone who went to visit her family. It’s not a regular thing for me.
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It is not my place to challenge. As I said, I’m just being nosey.
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Challenge away. He’s their only child and they both work so I guess this is just how they do it…I was merely a sub.
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Wish I could find a model sub. 😉
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LOL
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Susannah, I love the parting wave he gave you. Says a lot about the little boy.
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I wanted to grab him and give him a huge hug that of course, would have mortified him in front of his friends.
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