Wednesday, April 11, 2012

How to Get Out of Trouble

I spoke with Melynda at another school yesterday.  We're really falling into a great groove.  The kids don't seem to be getting bored at all.  We flow from one topic to the next and have the part with the violin planned well.  
    The kids loved it and one even stayed to talk with me afterward.     
    "You're pretty," he said.
    "How sweet.  Thank you."
    "You have nice clothes."
    "Ummm.  Thank you."
    "You have black pants."
    "Yes.  I do."
    "You have big eyes."
    "Well . . . maybe I do, compared to some."  What was this, Little Red Riding Hood?  
    I had no idea where the conversation was going until the kid stared at my socks.  "So, with how nice you look, why do you have two different socks on?"
    I looked down and yes indeed, I had on a green one and a plain white one.  I must have been in such a hurry, I just grabbed what was closest.  But that observant kid wouldn't understand something so mundane.  I had to think quick.  I had to get out of trouble!
    "The socks?" he asked again.  "Did you mean to do that?"
    I'm an adult.  I'm supposed to be this motivational speaker . . . author-person.  I couldn't tell the kid about what a goof I can be.  I suddenly thought of something and motioned for him to come closer.  "Some authors are eccentric," I said.  "That means they do funny things that no one else understands.  Can you keep a secret?"  He nodded.  "I'm just trying to fit in."  Light filled his eyes.  "Plus, that green sock is lucky and the other one like it has a huge hole.  It's hard to admit, but I threw it away last week.  The right one was the luckiest anyway, good thing that wasn't the one to go."
    He grinned.  "That's a great trick even if socks don't have a right or left."
    I raised a brow.  That kid was smart!  He reminded me of Vander in my book "The Sword of Senack."  
    "I had fun listening to you today.  Maybe I'll be a writer someday, too. . . . A writer with a lucky sock."
    "That would be awesome!" I chuckled.  "I bet you'd be amazing.  Good writers know how to pay attention to detail.  And you, well, you're the only person who seemed to notice my socks.  Even the adults didn't say anything!  Nicely done, young man.  Nicely done."
    He went to walk away and I felt so guilty I had to stop him.  Why do I always do this; you know, tell a fib and then have to come clean!  "Actually, I'm not trying to fit in with the sock thing.  I was just in such a hurry to get here, I grabbed the wrong sock."
    He laughed.  "I thought so.  It's a lot harder to fool kids than adults think."
    "But you won't tell the other kids?" I asked.  "Maybe they didn't notice.  I'm supposed to be some fancy author.  They don't want to hear about my sock problems."
   "I already told you, I know how to keep a secret."  He looked at my socks and whispered.  "They do look cool like that though.  If you keep doing that, you might start something.  If authors are as different as you say, you really will fit right in."
    "Maybe," I said.
    He nodded.  "I'm gonna try to come to your book signing on Friday. But only because you told the truth."
   "Yeah?"
    "Yep," he said.  "Most adults wouldn't have, but you did.  You're all right Ms. Hirsch."
    "Thanks," I said and I bet that kid had no idea how much he'd made my day.  Plus, I just learned how to get out of trouble.  All you have to do is tell the truth.

For more info about my signing schedule, please go HERE

21 comments:

  1. lmao I didn't notice your different socks. Thanks for taking me with you yesterday. It was a blast.. My dad got in fine.. He's exhausted though so I'm letting him sleep. I'm going to get my continuous glucose monitor this morning. I'm so nervous. I hope this works!

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  2. That's so funny.

    "You have big eyes."

    My reply "All the better to see you.

    Creative response for the socks.

    I'm glad you're having fun. Keep chugging along and with Melynda by your side, you're in good company.

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  3. Go EC--setting the fashion trend at area schools.

    Where I used to work, one guy used to get dressed in the dark to avoid waking anyone else in his house. He had to modify the practice after he worked for an hour and then realized he was wearing one black dress shoe and one brown one.

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  4. That's great! And oh, so true....they can always tell when you're lying! :)

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  5. LMAO oh that kid was very bright, he has a great future ahead. Evenp picking up on the there is not right or left sock..hahaha....many can tell when you are lying too, the only ones we seem to fool is ourselves.

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  6. That was great! Much better than I would have handled it. I occasionally mismatch socks for work (5:30 am in a dark house...blue looks just like brown). The last person who called me on it, I said something like. "What? Do you have a foot fetish or something? Why are you staring at my feet?" :)

    I like your way a lot better.

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  7. Never know when you will be running into a bright kid that can see through things others let go right over their heads. You were so wise to let the truth guide you and it paid off.

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  8. doesnt look like we'll be able to come to any book signings :(

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  9. I have a pair of socks in my drawer. One is red & the other's blue. And I have another pair just like it!!

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  10. Eccentric you say? This from the guy that always wears his socks inside out.

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  11. Ha. I wear black socks with coloured toes and heels, and I've often worn odd ones 'on purpose' when I can't find a pair that are both clean.

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  12. That boy was a sweetie. I love how kids see things that are a little off and comment about it. We adults are more circumspect.

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  13. Dear Big Eyes,

    Wearing two different socks is in. It's fashionable. Tell the world I said so. I quite often wear four different earrings. I'm starting a fashion trend.

    Love,
    Janie

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  14. And the truth shall set you free..

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  15. Depending on this kid's age, you probably would have gotten away with your fib. However, this kid sounds like one who can handle the truth, especially when it's as innocent as "I was in a hurry and wasn't paying attention to the socks I grabbed." Although at first, it sounded like you had made his day with the fib! :)

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  16. I've worn two different color earrings and no one noticed so I can relate. I match up my socks before I put them away, so never messed up the socks, but I had several pairs of the same shoes and wore a navy and black one together once. ha ha

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  17. I too have a brother-in-law that has a hard time making his point in an argument and he fits right in with our family, just like yours.

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  18. hahahaha! An the truth shall indeed set you free!

    Great Post!

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