Richmond Ramble

Sonnet and I have several hours to ourselves and go for a walk - The White Lodge, pictured, is the backdrop. I am tempted to get in the face of a driver who brazenly swipes our parking space but since she is a she I desist. Given the Keys and Gray dismissal - am I sexist?

Eitan and I pick up Madeleine at Nicki's birthday party.

Me: "What are five good things in your life?"

Eitan: "Football, school and swimming."

Me: "Anything else?"

Eitan: "Cooking and my friends."

Me: "How about five bad things?"

Eitan: "Parsnips."

Me: "That's it?"

Eitan: "I can't think of any others."

Me: "Parsnips. Ok. That is pretty good."

Eitan: "And war."

Me: "Do you think about that?"

Eitan: "Yes, but I don't really understand it."

Me: "Most adults don't either."

On the walk home from Nicki's:

Madeleine: "What's for dinner?"

Me: "Your Mom's making fish."

Eitan: "I'm not eating it."

Madeleine: "Why not?"

Eitan: "Because I feel sorry for the fish. And because of over-fishing."

Madeleine: "Not fish fingers?"

Eitan: "No."

Madeleine: "Not fish 'n chips?"

Eitan: "Well, maybe."

Madeleine: "Look! Look at that!"

Me: "What?"

Madeleine: "It's a prisoner's gate. On that door."

Eitan: "Is that house a prison?"

Me: "I imagine not."

Madeleine: "It might have been. In the olden times."

Eitan's class continues to study Ireland.

Me: "What bodies of water surround Ireland?"

Eitan: "I don't know."

Me: "The Atlantic Ocean is one. Any others?"

Eitan: "The Pacific?"

Me: "Are you mad?"

Eitan: "Well, it could be sandwiched between the Atlantic and the Pacific."

Me: "Atlas, mister, when we get home. First thing."

Over dinner.

Eitan: "I'm not eating fish."

Sonnet: "Not fish fingers?"

Eitan: "No."

Sonnet: "Not fish and chips?"

Eitan: "No."

Sonnet:

Eitan, looking at his plate: "Poor little fishes."