The apple

“Did you hear about this?”

I looked up.

Me: Huh?

My attention had been split between telling Tornado S “no, eating your soft pretzel is not dinner; you have to eat the stuff shells and green beans too” and telling Tornado A “no, leave your sippy cup alone; stop experimenting with gravity and liquid.”  He was supposed to have his attention on Tornado E.  Zone coverage at its best.

Tornado E turned his body towards me.  I turned my attention to him.

Tornado E: I got lunch detention today.

The first I had heard of it.

Me: Why?

Tornado E: Well, C was talking to me.  And that attracted me to talk to him.  So *I* to talk back to him.

Me: When its class time, you can’t.  You have to tell him to wait until break, recess, or lunch.

Tornado E: We were passed break.

Me: Then tell him to wait.  And if he doesn’t listen, ignore him.

Tornado E: I can’t annoy him.  He’s my friend.

I turned my face because I couldn’t hold back the smile any longer.  My mother’s curse struck again.  “You’ll have a child just like you.”  I wondered how many times I explained my detentions to my parents.  For the very same reason.  This is going to be a long 12 years.

At least I didn’t laugh over his word choice.

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