Smoke Gets in Your (Third) Eye

This story will tell you much of what you need to know about my children.

At 10 years old, N. is my oldest. Handsome, gentle-hearted, slightly socially inept, and earnest to a fault; he is pretty much me at that age. A., on the other hand, is 5 years old and his father's son to be sure - universally adored, wide-eyed and very aware of his capacity to emotionally manipulate people (mostly me).

A. began his first week at "big-boy school" and happily followed big brother everywhere he could - to the bus, on the bus, at school to the extent he was able, and back 'round again. To say he was excited about kindergarten is an understatement; he could barely talk straight amid the giddy convulsions when I asked about his first day. I had to get the boys out of school early on day 3 and A. wept as he explained to me, "We were about to go to art. I've been waiting forever for art." N., on the other hand, had already concluded by day 3 that fifth grade was going to be utterly boring.

Anyhow, on with the story. Toward the end of that first week, the boys are walking back from the bus stop (holding hands even, I nearly exploded with love for those kids, but - ahem! - back to the story). A. is clearly excited about something. As they approach, he shows me his wrist and, on it, four little beads strung on a white elastic string. "It's a friendship bracelet," he beamed, "and it's magic." N. rolls his eyes.

Naturally, I inquire. "What's so magic about it?" He explains, "The beads, they turn colors in the light, see?" He covers the bracelet with a tiny hand to shield it fromt he sunlight. I am under his spell, and am compelled to comply. We "ooh" and "ahh" over the bracelet together on the way to the front door.

N. can take it no more. He finally turns to A. and announces: "I'm sure there's a very logical explanation for that. A. looks at the bracelet and considers this.

And just before I am about to tell N. to 'zip it!', A. replies "I know! It's just magical, right?" as if his brother gave him the ultimate endorsement.

"Yep. Hey, let's go play Pokemon." And that was that.