Tomorrow morning Thomas is leaving for a 3-day trip to a camp on the other side of Michigan. He is a bit nervous because he believes he will be required to climb a 100-foot climbing wall. So we took him to a nearby park (next to the e coli lake which is filled with huge, gross, slimy carp) which has this climbing wall. He's still nervous about going, but now his main reason is because he is convinced he will committ some unforseeable social gaffe and the other kids will cruelly ostracize him. I'd like to be able to promise him that no such thing will happen, but based on my experiences of childhood I think Thomas's anxieties are completely reasonable.
Meanwhile, here is Frederick (sans shorts, socks and shoes) heading off in his own direction, both literally and metaphorically.
For reasons we don't understand, the water sprays suddenly started working and Thomas and Frederick had a wildly good time running in the sprinkling fountains. Simon and Frederick have been here dozens of times before and there wasn't even a trickle. It was very strange and magical, having the entire place to ourselves with the machines starting up and shutting off seemingly randonly.
And here's Frederick, now without any clothes, enjoying the ridiculousness of it all.
Meanwhile, here is Frederick (sans shorts, socks and shoes) heading off in his own direction, both literally and metaphorically.
For reasons we don't understand, the water sprays suddenly started working and Thomas and Frederick had a wildly good time running in the sprinkling fountains. Simon and Frederick have been here dozens of times before and there wasn't even a trickle. It was very strange and magical, having the entire place to ourselves with the machines starting up and shutting off seemingly randonly.
And here's Frederick, now without any clothes, enjoying the ridiculousness of it all.
3 comments:
OK. Thomas is a sensitive Cushing. But he still goes for it. And it will be fine. And it will cost a bit. Watching Frederick is like watching freedom. We should be so lucky!
xM
I often envy Frederick. His love for a select few is so deep and strong, it's almost frightening. Yet he wastes no time or energy trying to win favor with anyone outside that circle. Thomas, on the other hand, spends far too much time worrying about the cruel things people that he doesn't even particularly like might say or do.
If Thomas can even contemplate climbing on a 100-foot wall he's obviously inherited Anderson genes not Cushing. Both my father and I were always hopeless at heights. I only have to get more than about five feet off the ground to suffer from panic attacks and have to make a precipitous retreat. Horace used to suffer from vertigo (which he comically pronounced ver-TIE-go).
Frederick, on the other hand, is clearly my grandchild.
Post a Comment