Friday night I escorted my mother to a wedding, a chore that I was not looking forward to. There were seven of us at a round table. One of our companions was an 11-year-old boy, the epitome of innocence. His mother was Hispanic and his father Anglo. He had inherited a light-brown skin that made him hugely attractive. The kid was skinny as a rail, wearing brand new jeans. The jeans had probably never been through the laundry yet. He had no belt but one wasn't necessary. His pants fitted beautifully around his waist and hips and never threatened to slide downwards the whole evening. His tucked-in shirt, a golf-type, had been chosen to match the jeans: horizontal stripes with the dominant stripe the same dark blue as his pants. Thinner, muted maroon and gold stripes alternated with the blue ones. His eyes were busy, darting around to take in the surroundings and the people. When we headed for the buffet, the kid paused at the head of the serving line for a moment and courteously handed plates and napkins to several people, motioning them to go ahead of him in the line.
On returning to our table, the young guy's plate was seriously full. He consumed plenty of raw fruit, veggies and cheese cubes, plus generous helpings of brisket, salad, green beans and bacon-wrapped mushrooms. Then he made a second trip and inhaled another plateful! While he was gone his mother told us, "I don't know where he puts all that food, he's so skinny!"
Our 11-year-old showed no sign of puberty. He was a surprisingly good conversationalist for a young boy trapped at a wedding. He answered questions about school and hobbies (reading books!). One dear old lady asked whether he liked girls. "Not much," he told her.
After he stowed away all that food he helped distribute plates of cake, keeping for himself a piece with an unusually large amount of icing. Following the cake he began to yawn and look sleepy. By the time the dancing began his chair was shoved up next to his dad's and he was sound asleep leaning against his father.
The evening turned out a lot better than I expected!
Anonymous
what a wonderful story about your experience at the wedding. young boys sure can put away the food. sometimes weddings can be very enjoyable like the one you attend. thanks for sharing a wonderful story.
ReplyDeleteAnon # 4:47, this is so true. I once heard an older mother talking to a class of young parents at church. Her point was about how much difference twp years can make. She said, the wonderful young man we were so proud of at 12 years old was replaced at 14 by an ugly stranger that we couldn't stand.
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