So Kids are the Coolest

And the fact that I relate to them more than adults sometimes scares me.

A few weeks ago it was crazy at work and the line was long and full of people (they shopped in packs or something). I was ringing one family through and I say this mop-topped little brunette stomping her way through the crowd. Now for a person of her petite stature this was quite easy. Her adult-sized grandmother found it a little more difficult to maneuver through the people and just started yelling, "Emily, come back her. Don't make Nonnie come get you. Stop right there, turn around and come back."
Emily didn't even look back, she just kept marching, folded her arms and uttered the greatest phrase I think any little 3-4 year old could ever say, "I quit!"
My mind immediately began to try to compile a list of possible things a 3-4 year old could quit from doing. And then I realized that it didn't matter, because sometimes when the world is chasing after you making demands and all you want to do is get away that's just exactly how you feel. You just want to quit. Nonnie did catch up to little Emily, and Emily kicked and screamed the entire way out of the store. Her grandmother and mother kept saying she just hadn't had her nap yet. Again, I can completely relate.

Then came Sunday. I wasn't supposed to work Sunday but then I did and it was a mistake to have done so, except for Cody. I am very glad I met Cody. Cody has come in the store before with his lightsaber. Look, people, kids especially, want to tell you about stuff that makes them happy. I love hearing about stuff that makes people happy, and lots of times, I learn a ton of cool shit. I know what a lightsaber is . . . but asking Cody, "Hey is that one of those thing-a-ma-bob's you put ice cream in?" and giving him the chance to giggle and to tell me all about what he actually sees it as, there isn't a right or wrong answer, hell he could have made up an entirely different function for it or gone along with my idea of putting ice cream on top of it, that makes me happy. As long as he believed it and it made him happy, I'd be down for anything. He told me he usually let his mom be Princess Leia, but if I wanted to be her, I could. His mother said she had only let him watch the first movie so far (excuse me "A New Hope") and was making him wait at least a few months in between movies. That was back in the fall because Cody had been Luke for Halloween, hence the actual purchase of the lightsaber. So Sunday he came in the store and I had the pleasure of ringing him and his mom through. Cody had his lightsaber (as always) but I noticed he had a little extra pep in his step as he waltzed over to my register with his mom.

"He made us wait in line until we got you because he wanted to give you something and tell you something." First Cody handed me a number 5 fitting room tag (way to drop the ball fitting room associate, a five-year-old grifted you), and he did so with so much pride.

His mom goes, "I didn't even know he still had it and he wouldn't let me give it to anyone else but you."

"Thanks for keeping it safe man, what was it you wanted to tell me?"

Cody just looked down at the lightsaber and then looked at his mom, and then looked at his lightsaber.

"Well go ahead and tell her."

Then Cody gets real close to the register counter, plants his little chin on top of it, puts the lightsaber down and cups his mouth with both hands. I lean in and Cody whispers, "Did you know that Darth Vader is Luke's father?" I couldn't stop the uncontrollable smiling because . . . well . . . that's the best. Then as he grabs his lightsaber he says more to himself than to anyone, "I didn't see that coming." I know exactly what it feels like to want to share something of that magnitude. Cody, you made my day. Keep it real, little man.

Dream hard, play fair, and be honest,
sincerely
xoxo
Cindy Mayweather