Eventually Boys Grow Up (well, kind of…)

 

It’s Summer. The time when children are happy sitting in a tent in the backyard where nobody can see them. Getting into whatever mischief holds their attention. Which usually isn’t very long.

 

On this particular day, three little boys sat huddled together giggling, having a contest to see who could fart the loudest.

 

The flatulence soon filled the stifling air in the tent.

 

“Mine’s the loudest,” said 9 year old Tommy.

 

“Nuh UH!!! MINE’S the loudest!” argued 10- year old Johnny.

 

“MINE is! chimed 10-year old Scotty. You’re a nincompoop!”

 

They exchanged insults and name-calling for several minutes, then continued playing marbles.

 

A few hours later, the sun dropped low in the sky behind the willow tree in the front yard and the boys went to their respective homes.

 

The next day began as the string of days before it.

 

As he picked up the Snicker’s bar on the counter, Johnny said “Mom, what’s a nincompoop?”

Such a strange word to come out of the mouth of a 10-year old!

 

“It means someone who isn’t very smart. Where did you hear that word?”

 

“Scotty said I’m a nincompoop.”

 

“Well, you’re NOT a nincompoop. If he says that again, you just say: “And YOU’RE a…a…” she stammered as she tried to come up with an acceptable reply.

 

“You just smile and say “You’re wrong. I’m inscrutable!”

 

“What does THAT mean, Mom?”

 

“It means you’re a mystery. But Scotty probably won’t know that!”

 

“Okay! I hope I can remember that word!”

 

And with that, Johnny skipped out of the house to once again meet his pals.

 

Will Johnny remember the word? Probably not. But the love in his Mom’s heart was definitely not finite.

 

She tucked this moment in her heart to be summoned whenever she experienced the frustrations sure to come as her son poses the challenges ahead!

Willow, finite (measurable), nincompoop, flatulence, snickers